System and method for enhanced altitude control of an autogyro
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorGrzegorz Marian Kawiecki
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Abstract
A system for altitude control of an autogyro includes an unpowered rotor for generating lift and a forward propulsion system for generating a horizontal thrust component of a thrust vector for propelling the autogyro forward during flight. The system for altitude control also includes at least one thrust steering control devices configured to steer thrust generated by the forward propulsion system such that the forward propulsion system generates a vertical thrust component of the thrust vector.
Claims20
A system for altitude control of an autogyro during landing, the system comprising:
- a frame;
- on-board sensors coupled to the frame;
- an unpowered rotor coupled to the frame, wherein the unpowered rotor is configured to generate lift during flight;
- a forward propulsion system coupled to the frame for generating a horizontal thrust component of a thrust vector for propelling the autogyro forward during the flight;
- and
- a landing control system coupled to the forward propulsion system, the landing control system comprising:
- one or more thrust steering control devices configured to steer thrust generated by the forward propulsion system such that the forward propulsion system generates a vertical thrust component of the thrust vector;
- a control unit device coupled to the one or more thrust steering control devices, wherein the control unit device, during a landing phase of the flight, is configured to:
- determine flight parameters based on data from the on-board sensors;
- determine, based on the flight parameters, a target thrust vector, wherein a vertical thrust component of the target thrust vector enables a target vertical descent velocity for the frame;
- and
- send one or more signals to the one or more thrust steering control devices to cause the forward propulsion system to generate thrust corresponding to the target thrust vector.
A method of altitude control during landing of an autogyro having an unpowered rotor for generating lift and a forward propulsion system for generating a horizontal thrust component of a thrust vector for propelling the autogyro forward during flight, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a control unit during the landing of the autogyro, data from on-board sensors, wherein the landing of the autogyro is a portion of a flight of the autogyro;
- determining, at the control unit, flight parameters based on the data;
- determining, at the control unit based on the flight parameters, a target thrust vector, wherein a vertical thrust component of the target thrust vector enables a target vertical descent velocity for the autogyro;
- and
- sending one or more signals from the control unit to one or more thrust steering control devices, wherein the one or more signals cause the forward propulsion system to generate thrust corresponding to the target thrust vector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.