Method for assisting a pilot in controlling an aircraft, assistance system for an aircraft pilot, and aircraft
AssigneeVolocopter GmbH
InventorsJan Zwiener, Christoph Seiferth, Johannes Stephan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for assisting a pilot in controlling an aircraft, an assistance system for an aircraft pilot, and an aircraft are disclosed herein. In one example, a method is disclosed of assisting a pilot in controlling an aircraft having a plurality of lift-generating propulsion devices. The method having steps that include, calculation of momentary control limitations for each control of the aircraft around a roll axis, a pitch axis, a yaw axis, and a total thrust T of the propulsion devices, and display of the calculated control limitations by a display device.
Claims20
A method for assisting a pilot in controlling an aircraft having a plurality of lift-generating propulsion devices, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a flight control computer of the aircraft, current control parameters exchanged with the plurality of lift-generating propulsion devices for the controlling of the aircraft;
- calculating, by a computing device, momentary control limitations based on the current control parameters for each of:
- controlling the aircraft around a roll axis (x);
- controlling the aircraft around a pitch axis (y);
- controlling the aircraft around a yaw axis (z);
- and
- controlling a total thrust (T) of the propulsion devices, including dynamically calculating each momentary control limitation by varying an upper control limit and a lower control limit based on a momentary flight state of the aircraft and momentary control inputs conveyed from the current control parameters;
- and
- displaying, within a fixed display area for each of the momentary control limitations, the momentary control limitations by a display device, the displaying includes displaying the upper control limit and the lower control limit for each momentary control limitation as movable graphical indicators that move within the respective fixed display area based on changes to the momentary flight state and momentary control inputs to visually assist the pilot in the controlling of the aircraft within physical capabilities of the aircraft.
An assistance system for assisting a pilot in controlling an aircraft having a plurality of propulsion devices, the assistance system comprising:
- a computing device for calculating momentary control limitations for:
- control of the aircraft around a roll axis (x);
- control of the aircraft around a pitch axis (y);
- control of the aircraft around a yaw axis (z);
- and
- control of a total thrust (T) of the propulsion devices, including dynamically calculating each momentary control limitation by varying an upper control limit and a lower control limit based on a momentary flight state of the aircraft and momentary control inputs conveyed from current control parameters exchanged between a flight control computer of the aircraft and the plurality of propulsion devices;
- a display device comprising a fixed display area for each of the momentary control limitations for displaying the calculated control limitations, wherein the display device is configured to display the upper control limit and the lower control limit for each momentary control limitation as movable graphical indicators that move within the respective fixed display area based on the momentary flight state and momentary control inputs to visually assist the pilot in the controlling of the aircraft within physical capabilities of the aircraft.
An aircraft comprising:
- a plurality of lift-generating propulsion devices;
- and
- an assistance system for assisting a pilot in controlling the propulsion devices, the assistance system comprising:
- a calculation device for calculating momentary control limitations for:
- control of the aircraft around a roll axis (x);
- control of the aircraft around a pitch axis (y);
- control of the aircraft around a yaw axis (z);
- and
- control of a total thrust (T) of the propulsion devices, the calculating including dynamically calculating each momentary control limitation by varying an upper control limit and a lower control limit based on a momentary flight state of the aircraft and momentary control inputs conveyed from current control parameters exchanged between a flight control computer of the aircraft and the plurality of propulsion devices;
- and
- a display device comprising a fixed display area for each of the momentary control limitations, for displaying the calculated control limitations, wherein the display device is configured to display the upper control limit and the lower control limit for each momentary control limitation as movable graphical indicators that move within the respective fixed display area based on the momentary flight state and momentary control inputs to visually assist the pilot in the controlling of the aircraft within physical capabilities of the aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.