US 2021/0232160 A1 · CONTROL AND STABILIZATION OF A FLIGHT VEHICLE FROM A DETECTED PERTURBATION BY TILT AND ROTATION

Abstract

A flight vehicle control and stabilization process detects and measures an orientation of a non-fixed portion relative to a fixed frame or portion of a flight vehicle, following a perturbation in the non-fixed portion from one or both of tilt and rotation thereof. A pilot or rider tilts or rotates the non-fixed portion, or both, to intentionally adjust the orientation and effect a change in the flight vehicle's direction. The flight vehicle control and stabilization process calculates a directional adjustment of the rest of the flight vehicle from this perturbation and induces the fixed portion to re-orient itself with the non-fixed portion to effect control and stability of the flight vehicle. The flight vehicle control and stabilization process also detects changes in speed and altitude, and includes stabilization components to adjust flight vehicle operation from unintentional payload movement on the non-fixed portion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A flight vehicle comprising:

a fixed portion comprising at least one force-generating device utilizing at least one of lift, propulsion, and thrust;
and
at least one non-fixed portion, the least one non-fixed portion mechanically and rigidly connected to the fixed portion with an apparatus comprising one or more hinges or pivot mechanisms so as to enable to at least one of tilt and rotate within a specific and defined range relative to the fixed portion;
wherein the least one non-fixed portion is adapted to hold a rider or payload in a standing, sitting, reclining, or prone position, wherein the second portion is adapted to utilize tilt or rotation to detect a tilt forward or backward, or a rotation including an angular motion of the rider or payload in a direction transverse to a planar axis of the non-fixed portion, a rotation by a left or right motion of the rider along the planar axis of the non-fixed portion, or both

1 more element

An apparatus attached to a flight vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a coupling mechanism adapted to couple a fixed portion of the flight vehicle and at least one non-fixed portion of the flight vehicle, the coupling mechanism comprising a base-side adapted to be attached to at least a portion of the fixed portion of the flight vehicle, comprising at least one of top, bottom, or side of the flight vehicle and a payload-facing-side adapted to be attached to a non-fixed portion of the flight vehicle, and adapted to be attached to the base-side such that the payload-facing-side is parallel to the base-side and facing an opposite direction from the base-side, such that when the base-side is attached to the flight vehicle, the payload-facing-side is facing away from the flight vehicle;
and
a plurality of sensors embedded in the coupling mechanism, wherein the plurality of sensors is adapted to detect and measure a perturbation in at least one of a tilt, shift or rotation of a payload when the payload is on or attached to the payload-facing-side, and wherein the flight vehicle may adjust to the detected and measured perturbation of the payload.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control and stabilization of a flight vehicle from a detected perturbation by tilt and rotation

Life of this patent

Control and stabilization of a flight vehicle from a detected perturbation by tilt and rotation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20