Rotor blade pitch trajectory control
OwnerThomas Karl Berger, David Wade Milanes +1inventors
InventorsThomas Karl Berger, David Wade Milanes, James Stewart Robertson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aircraft uses trajectory-based control algorithms for blade pitch (or twist). This approach greatly enhances the ability of the actuator to accurately achieve the desired blade pitch and to track the commanded pitch position. An actuator includes an electronic rotor blade controller that converts communicated or desired changes in pitch (or similar parameter) to actual physical effects that match the desired changes as closely as possible. The controller preferably includes a motor drive circuit, such as an h-bridge, a communication circuit for connection to external commands, and a processor with associated enabling circuitry (e.g. memory, I/O) to coordinate and implement the control.
Claims13
An aircraft having a trajectory-based position control comprising:
- a first rotor assembly having at least first and second rotor blades,
- a first actuator configured to provide individual control actuation on at least the first rotor blade;
- an electronic rotor blade controller configured to use the first actuator to control a subsequent blade trajectory of the first rotor blade as a function of at least one of a prior pitch velocity, a prior pitch acceleration, and a prior pitch jerk of the first rotor blade.
A method of reducing vibration, or optimizing another parameter, in a rotorcraft having a rotor assembly with at least first and second rotor blades, comprising:
- using individual blade control (IBC) to control blade pitches of the first blade in a current rotation based upon of at least one of a pitch velocity, a pitch acceleration, and a past pitch jerk of the first blade during a previous rotation;
- using individual blade control (IBC) to control blade pitches of the second blade in the current rotation based upon of at least one of a pitch velocity, a pitch acceleration, and a past pitch jerk of the second blade during the previous rotation;
- providing feedback with respect to operation of at least the first blade in the current rotation;
- and
- utilizing the feedback to control blade trajectories of at least the first blade in a still later rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.