Hybrid low speed control
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsKevin Thomas Christensen, Hunter Barton Nelson, Martin Wesley Shubert, Paul David Ruckel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary method for controlling low speed flight of an aircraft having a controller receiving pilot input includes transitioning from a translational rate command (TRC) to a linear acceleration command (LAC) when the controller is displaced above a control transition displacement (CTD), and while in LAC holding speed when the controller is relaxed to CTD.
Claims19
A method for controlling low speed flight of an aircraft having a controller receiving manual pilot input, the method comprising:
- defining a control transition displacement (CTD) relative to a centered, no-force detent position of the controller, the controller in data communication with an aircraft computer;
- defining a translational rate command (TRC) region bounded by the CTD and a TRC threshold speed;
- defining a linear acceleration command (LAC) region where the controller is displaced greater than the CTD or the aircraft exceeds the TRC threshold speed;
- maneuvering the aircraft in response to displacing the controller from the detent position in response to manual input from a pilot;
- commanding, when in the TRC region, a speed proportional to the displacement of the controller from the detent position;
- commanding, when in the LAC region, an acceleration or deceleration proportional to the displacement of the controller from the CTD;
- and
- transitioning, with an aircraft computer, from translational rate commands in the TRC region to linear acceleration commands in the LAC region.
A system for controlling low speed flight of an aircraft, the system comprising:
- a rotor system having blades to propel the aircraft;
- a controller in data communication with an aircraft computer, the controller displaced from a detent position in response to manual input from a pilot, wherein the detent position is a centered, no-force position;
- and
- the aircraft computer having instructions stored thereon that cause the system to:
- transition from translational rate command (TRC) to linear acceleration command (LAC) when the controller is displaced greater than a control transition displacement (CTD) from the detent position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.