Rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft
AssigneeHood Technology Corporation
InventorsAndreas H. von Flotow, Corydon D. Roeseler, Caleb Andrew Woodruff, Daniel Pepin Reiss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotorcraft-assisted launch and retrieval system, and a method for controlling an airborne rotorcraft which includes controlling by a controller a first feedback loop about a longitudinal roll axis of the airborne rotorcraft and controlling by the controller a second feedback loop about a horizontal pitch axis of the airborne rotorcraft, without controlling a vertical yaw axis of the airborne rotorcraft.
Claims28
A method for detecting a stall of a rotor motor of an unmanned rotorcraft before launch of the rotorcraft, the method comprising:
- (a) for a designated period after sending a signal commanding a rotor motor to operate, receiving, by a controller and from a rotational speed sensor, a measured rotational speed of the rotor motor;
- and
- (b) responsive to the measured rotational speed of the rotor motor being below a threshold rotational speed upon expiration of the designated period, causing the rotor motor to shut down.
A method for detecting a stall of a rotor motor of an unmanned rotorcraft before launch of the rotorcraft, the method comprising:
- (a) for a designated period after sending a signal commanding a rotor motor to operate, monitoring, by a controller, a back electromotive force generated by the rotor motor;
- and
- (b) responsive to the back electromotive force generated by the rotor motor being below a threshold back electromotive force upon expiration of the designated period, causing the rotor motor to shut down.
A method for detecting a stall of a rotor motor of an unmanned rotorcraft before launch of the rotorcraft, the method comprising:
- (a) for a designated period after sending a signal commanding a rotor motor to operate, receiving, by a controller signals indicating rotational speed of the rotor motor;
- and
- (b) responsive to the signals indicating that the rotational speed of the rotor motor is below a threshold rotational speed upon expiration of the designated period, causing the rotor motor to shut down.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.