System and method for an integrated backup control system

A flight control system for controlling an aircraft in flight, the flight control system comprising:

• a first actuated control stick having a first primary sensor, a first backup sensor, and a first processing unit having at least one first processor configured to generate a first tactile signal for the first actuated control stick;
• a first set of primary electronics coupled to the first primary sensor and located in the first processing unit, the first set of primary electronics being configured to receive a first primary control stick signal from the first primary sensor;
• a second actuated control stick having a second primary sensor, a second backup sensor, and a second processing unit having at least one second processor configured to generate a second tactile signal for the second actuated control stick;
• a second set of primary electronics coupled to the second primary sensor and located in the second processing unit, the second set of primary electronics being configured to receive a second primary control stick signal from the second primary sensor;
• a primary processor coupled to the first set of primary electronics and the second set of primary electronics, the primary processor located external to the processing unit and the primary processor being configured to generate a primary control signal based, at least in part, on at least one of the first primary control stick signal and the second primary control stick signal;
• a first set of backup electronics coupled to the first backup sensor and located in the first processing unit, the first set of backup electronics being configured to receive a first backup control stick signal from the first backup sensor and generate a first backup control signal based, at least in part, on the first backup control stick signal;
• a second set of backup electronics coupled to the second backup sensor and located in the second processing unit, the second set of backup electronics being configured to receive a second backup control stick signal from the second backup sensor and generate a second backup control signal based, at least in part, on the second backup control stick signal;
• at least one aircraft actuator coupled to the primary processor and coupled to at least one of the first set of backup electronics and the second set of backup electronics, the at least one aircraft actuator being configured to receive the primary control signal from the primary processor and at least one of the first backup control signal or the second backup control signal and being configured to actuate based, at least in part, on at least one of the primary control signal, the first backup control signal, or the second backup control signal.

A method for controlling the flight of an aircraft, the method comprising:

• sensing a primary control stick signal in a primary sensor coupled to an actuated control stick, the primary sensor being coupled to a set of primary electronics in a processing unit;
• sensing a backup control stick signal in a backup sensor coupled to the actuated control stick, the backup sensor being coupled to a set of backup electronics in the processing unit;
• transmitting the primary control stick signal from the set of primary electronics to a primary processor located external to the processing unit;
• generating a tactile signal in the processing unit for use by the actuated control stick;
• actuating the actuator control stick in response to the tactile signal;
• generating a primary control signal in the primary processor for an aircraft actuator, the primary processor being coupled to the aircraft actuator;
• generating a backup control signal in the set of backup electronics for the aircraft actuator, the set of backup electronics being coupled to the aircraft actuator;
• and
• controlling the aircraft actuator using at least one of the primary control signal or the backup control signal.

A method for controlling the flight of an aircraft, the method comprising:

• sensing a first primary control stick signal in a first primary sensor coupled to a first actuated control stick, the first primary sensor being coupled to a first set of primary electronics in a first processing unit;
• sensing a first backup control stick signal in a first backup sensor coupled to the first actuated control stick, the first backup sensor being coupled to a first set of backup electronics in the first processing unit;
• sensing a second primary control stick signal in a second primary sensor coupled to a second actuated control stick, the second primary sensor being coupled to a second set of primary electronics in a second processing unit;
• sensing a second backup control stick signal in a second backup sensor coupled to the second actuated control stick, the second backup sensor being coupled to a second set of backup electronics in the second processing unit;
• transmitting the first primary control stick signal and the second primary control stick signal to a primary processor located external to the first processing unit and the second processing unit;
• generating a first tactile signal in the first processing unit for use by the first actuated control stick;
• generating a second tactile signal in the second processing unit for use by the second actuated control stick;
• generating a primary control signal in the primary processor, the primary processor being coupled to at least one of a plurality of aircraft actuators;
• generating a first backup control signal in the first set of backup electronics, the first set of backup electronics being coupled to at least one of the aircraft actuators;
• generating a second backup control signal in the second set of backup electronics, the second set of backup electronics being coupled to at least one of the aircraft actuators;
• and
• controlling at least one of the aircraft actuators using at least one of the primary control signal, the first backup control signal, or the second backup control signal.

A flight control system for an aircraft comprising:

• an actuated control stick comprising:
• a primary sensor coupled to the actuated control stick;
• a backup sensor coupled to the actuated control stick;
• a first processor comprising:
• a first input to receive a primary control stick signal from the primary sensor;
• and
• a second input to receive a backup control stick signal from the backup sensor, wherein the first input and the second input are separate and independent;
• and
• the first processor being configured to:
• output the primary control stick signal from a first output;
• generate a tactile signal for the actuated control stick;
• and
• generate a backup control signal and output the backup control signal from a second output;
• wherein a first path from the first input to the first output is separate and independent from a second path from the second input to the second output;
• a second processor separate and independent from the first processing unit, the second processor being configured to:
• receive the primary control stick signal from the first output of the first processing unit;
• and
• generate a primary control signal based, at least in part, on the primary control stick signal;
• and
• at least one aircraft actuator coupled to the first processing unit and to the second processor, the actuator being configured to:
• receive the primary control signal from the second processor and the backup control signal from the first processing unit;
• and
• actuate based on at least one of the primary control signal or the backup control signal.