System and method for the autonomous transition of an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
AssigneeBeta Air, LLC
InventorsJoshua E. Auerbach, Nicholas Moy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for autonomous flight of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The system may include a pusher component, a lift component, a flight controller, and a pilot override switch. The pusher component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The lift component is mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft. The flight controller is communicatively connected to the pilot override switch. The flight controller is configured to identify a transition point, initiate operation of the pusher component, and terminate operation of the lift component. A method for flight control of an eVTOL aircraft is also provided.
Claims20
A system for flight control of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the system comprising:
- a pusher component attached to the eVTOL aircraft;
- a lift component attached to the eVTOL aircraft;
- a pilot override switch, wherein the pilot override switch is operable by a pilot of the eVTOL aircraft and is configured to alter control of the eVTOL aircraft;
- and
- a flight controller communicatively connected to the pilot override switch, wherein the flight controller is configured to:
- identify a flight transition point;
- initiate operation of the pusher component as a function of the flight transition point;
- initiate termination of operation of the lift component;
- receive a pilot override signal from the pilot override switch;
- generate an autonomous function as a function of a machine-learning model, wherein generating the autonomous function further comprises:
- inputting at least a flight element to the machine-learning model, wherein the at least a flight element comprises at least one of a forward thrust datum and an upward thrust datum of the eVTOL aircraft;
- inputting the pilot override signal to the machine-learning model;
- and
- outputting the autonomous function as a function of the at least a flight element and the pilot override signal;
- and
- allow, as a function of the autonomous function, the pilot to regain at least partial control over operation of the pusher component and the lift component.
A method for flight control of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the method comprising:
- identifying, by a flight controller incorporated in an eVTOL aircraft, a flight transition point;
- initiating, by the flight controller, operation of a pusher component mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft as a function of the flight transition point;
- initiating, by the flight controller, termination of operation of a lift component mechanically coupled to the eVTOL aircraft;
- receiving, by the flight controller, a pilot override signal from a pilot override switch communicatively connected to the flight controller, wherein the pilot override switch is operable by a pilot of the eVTOL aircraft and is configured to alter control of the eVTOL aircraft;
- generating, by the flight controller, an autonomous function as a function of a machine-learning model, wherein generating the autonomous function further comprises:
- inputting at least a flight element to the machine-learning model, wherein the at least a flight element comprises at least one of a forward thrust datum and an upward thrust datum of the eVTOL aircraft;
- inputting the pilot override signal to the machine-learning model;
- and
- outputting the autonomous function as a function of the at least a flight element and the pilot override signal;
- and
- allowing, by the flight controller, as a function of the autonomous function, the pilot to regain at least partial control over operation of the pusher component and the lift component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.