Electric reaction control system
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsCarlos Fenny, Sung Kim, Kip Campbell, Jouyoung Jason Choi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric reaction control system that can selectively expel a “burst” or “puff” of air to alter the orientation of the aircraft during flight. An aircraft incorporating ducting, an air compressor, an electric motor, and a plurality of nozzles can facilitate in-flight trajectory modifications. When an air burst is needed to provide thrust for the purposes of reaction control, nozzles are selectively opened and closed to provide roll, pitch, and yaw of the aircraft. The ERCS can facilitate an electric aircraft that would be very agile and very light, utilizing electric power, as opposed to jet power.
Claims20
A minimum lag-time electric reaction control system, comprising:
- an aircraft having air ducting configured to control pitch, roll, and yaw, disposed within the aircraft;
- an air compressor and an electric motor operably coupled to the air ducting;
- a plurality of nozzles disposed along pitch, roll, and yaw axes at extremities of the aircraft operably coupled to the ducting and configured to selectively expel a burst of air to alter the pitch, roll, and yaw orientation of the aircraft during flight;
- and
- a flight control computer configured to generate signals to vary timing, duration, and sequence of the burst of air from each of the plurality of nozzles,
- wherein a nozzle is located on the port side or the starboard side of a vertical fin.
A minimum-lag method for controlling the orientation of an aircraft, comprising:
- generating an air pressure in an aircraft air duct configured to control pitch, roll, and yaw;
- receiving input related to the pitch, roll, and yaw orientation of the aircraft;
- and
- regulating expulsion of a burst of air through one or more nozzles by receiving control signals from a flight control computer to vary timing, duration, and sequence of the burst of air from each of the plurality of nozzles operably coupled to the duct to alter the orientation of the aircraft during flight,
- wherein the aircraft's yaw is controlled by expelling a burst of air from a nozzle located on the port side or the starboard side of a vertical fin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.