System and method for controlling an aircraft

A method for controlling an aircraft, comprising:

• determining deflection positions of deflectable portions of a first and a second airfoil such that:
• at least one deflectable portion of the first air oil generates increased lift and a consequent increased drag for at least a portion of the first airfoil to facilitate a roll maneuver;
• at least one deflectable portion of the second airfoil generates negative lift and a consequent increased drag for at least a portion of the second airfoil to facilitate the roll maneuver;
• the increased lift of the first airfoil and the decreased lift of the second airfoil produce a roll moment;
• the increased drag of the first airfoil produce a yaw moment that counteracts a yaw moment produced by the increased drag of the second airfoil such that the roll maneuver does not substantially change the yaw moment of the aircraft;
• and
• deflecting the deflectable portions of the first and second airfoils to the determined deflection positions.

A system for co trolling an aircraft, comprising:

• an airframe including a first wing and a second wing;
• a first aileron hingedly coupled to the first wing, the first aileron deflectable to generate increased lift and a consequent increased drag for a least a portion of the first wing to facilitate roll maneuvers of the aircraft;
• a first airfoil pivotably coupled to the first wing outboard of the first aileron, the first airfoil deflectable to generate negative lift and a consequent increased drag for the first airfoil to facilitate roll maneuvers of the aircraft;
• a second aileron hingedly coupled to the second wing, the second aileron deflectable to generate increased lift and a consequent increased drag for at least a portion of the second wing to facilitate roll maneuvers of the aircraft;
• a second airfoil pivotably coupled to the second wing outboard of the second aileron, the second airfoil deflectable to generate negative lift and a consequent increased drag for the second airfoil to facilitate roll maneuvers of the aircraft;
• wherein the first aileron and second airfoil operable to cause the aircraft to roll in a first direction;
• wherein the second aileron and first airfoil operable to cause the aircraft to roll in a second direction;
• control software executing on a computer, the control software operable to determine deflection positions of the first airfoil, first aileron, second airfoil, and second aileron such that the yaw moments produced by the increased drag of the first and second airfoils counteracts the yaw moments produced by the increased drag of the first and second wings, respectively, such that the roll maneuvers do not substantially change the yaw moment of the aircraft;
• and
• one or more actuators coupled to each of the first aileron, first airfoil, second aileron, and second airfoil, an actuator being operable to deflect the first aileron, first airfoil, second aileron, or second airfoil to the determined deflection position.