Process and machine for load alleviation

A process, the process comprising:

• sensing an input affecting a part of an aerospace vehicle at a time prior to the input affecting a wing of the aerospace vehicle;
• receiving in an estimator in an Nz predictor generating an Nz load estimate at a location on the wing of the aerospace vehicle at a time in the future:
• a gust estimate from a load alleviation sub-system;
• and
• values, comprising:
• a speed, and a center of gravity of the aerospace vehicle, from sensors on the aerospace vehicle;
• deriving, in the Nz predictor using the input, the Nz load estimate and a predicted Nz load at the location on the wing at the time in the future;
• preempting the predicted Nz load at the location at the time in the future via, using the predicted Nz load at the location on the wing at the time in the future and deriving an alleviation command in the load alleviation sub-system;
• sending the alleviation command to a control element of the aerospace vehicle;
• and
• the estimator selecting between an open-loop mode or a closed-loop mode for generating the estimated load of the part on the vehicle.

A machine configured to alleviate a load on an aerospace vehicle, wherein the machine comprises:

• a sensor;
• a control element on the aerospace vehicle configured to change the load on a part of the aerospace vehicle;
• and
• a predictor that comprises:
• an estimator, configured to generate an estimated load on the part of the aerospace vehicle based upon:
• a selection between an open-loop mode or a closed-loop mode;
• and
• a reception of:
• a gust estimate from a load alleviation sub-system;
• and
• values, comprising:
• a speed, and a center of gravity of the aerospace vehicle, from sensors on the aerospace vehicle;
• a program code that comprises an algorithm that comprises rules configured to:
• convert parameters from a state sensed upwind from the part on the aerospace vehicle into:
• an estimated Nz load on the part;
• and
• a prediction, for a time in the future, of an Nz load scaled for a weight of the aerospace vehicle;
• and
• initiate an alleviation command that preempts the part on the aerospace vehicle from a load equal to the prediction of the Nz load scaled for the weight of the aerospace vehicle at the time in the future.