US 2019/0241253 A1Published application

Flight Control Systems and Methods for an Aerial Vehicle

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorMitchell Johnson

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Abstract

In an example, a system includes a first controller for controlling a first-flight-control surface, a second controller for controlling a second-flight-control surface, and a first override system including a mechanical linkage between the first controller and the second controller. The first override system is configured such that: (i) while less than a first threshold amount of force is applied to the mechanical linkage, movement of the first controller causes a corresponding movement of the second controller and vice versa, and (ii) while greater than the first threshold amount of force is applied to the mechanical linkage, the first controller and the second controller move separately. The system also includes a second override system operable to permanently disconnect the mechanical linkage responsive to greater than a second threshold amount of force applied to the mechanical linkage. The second threshold amount of force is greater than the first threshold amount of force.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a first controller configured to control a first flight control surface of an aerial vehicle;
a second controller configured to control a second flight control surface of the aerial vehicle;
a first override system comprising a mechanical linkage between the first controller and the second controller, wherein the first override system is configured such that:
(i) while less than a first threshold amount of force is applied to the mechanical linkage by the first controller and the second controller, movement of the first controller causes a corresponding movement of the second controller and movement of the second controller causes a corresponding movement of the first controller, and
(ii) while greater than the first threshold amount of force is applied to the mechanical linkage by the first controller and the second controller, the first controller and the second controller move separately relative to each other;
and
a second override system operable to permanently disconnect the mechanical linkage between the first controller and the second controller responsive to greater than a second threshold amount of force applied to the mechanical linkage by the first controller and the second controller, and
wherein the second threshold amount of force is greater than the first threshold amount of force.

5 more elements

A method of operating an aerial vehicle, wherein the aerial vehicle comprises a first controller configured to control a first flight control surface, a second controller configured to control a second flight control surface, a first override system including a mechanical linkage between the first controller and the second controller, and a second override system, the method comprising:

applying, by the first controller and the second controller to the mechanical linkage, a first force that is less than a first threshold amount of force to cause the first controller to move together with the second controller;
responsive to applying the first force, actuating the first flight control surface and the second flight control surface;
applying, by the first controller and the second controller to the mechanical linkage, a second force that is greater than the first threshold amount of force to cause the first controller and the second controller to move separately relative to each other;
responsive to applying the second force, actuating one of the first flight control surface or the second flight control surface;
and
applying, by the first controller and the second controller to the mechanical linkage, a third force that is greater than a second threshold amount of force to disconnect the mechanical linkage between the first controller and the second controller,
wherein the second threshold amount of force is greater than the first threshold amount of force.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.