US 6,662,086 B2 · Fuzzy logic based emergency flight control with thrust vectoring capability

Abstract

A fuzzy logic based emergency flight control system for an aircraft. The system has a thrust vectoring flight control system, an aerodynamic flight control system, and a fuzzy logic controller. The thrust vectoring flight control system provides thrust to the aircraft in an emergency situation alone or in combination with aerodynamic flight controls. The fuzzy logic controller executes fuzzy logic algorithms for assessing the emergency situation and controlling the aircraft thrust vectoring and aerodynamic flight control systems in the emergency situation. An adjustable nozzle is coupled to an exhaust thrust end of an engine of the aircraft and is angularly adjusted to direct thrust of the aircraft in a determined direction after fuzzy logic controller assessment of the emergency situation. Alternatively, an adjustable panel is mounted to a wing of the aircraft and positionable near an exhaust thrust end of an engine of the aircraft to direct thrust of the aircraft in a determined direction after the fuzzy logic controller assessment of the emergency situation. The fuzzy logic controller further includes a position, attitude, and heading determination system for determining position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft. The position, attitude, and heading determination system further includes global positioning system receivers mounted at extremities of the aircraft and a determination processor coupled to the global positioning receivers for calculating and assessing position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft comprising:

(a) obtaining input variables related to the aircraft, including:
(1) obtaining at least one of altitude of the aircraft, wind shear magnitude in proximity of the aircraft, air speed of the aircraft, and proximity parameters of the aircraft to other aircraft and objects;
(2) obtaining at least one of position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft;
and
(3) communicating the input variables to a fuzzy logic controller;
(b) fuzzifying the input variables into input fuzzy sets by using the fuzzy logic controller;
(c) obtaining fuzzified output variables from the fuzzified input variables;
(d) using the fuzzified output variables to calculate crisp output values for controlling the aircraft;
and
(e) executing commands based on the crisp output values wherein the commands control the aircraft;
wherein:
(f) obtaining position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft further comprises:
(1) locating global positioning system receivers at extremities of the aircraft;
(2) using the global positioning receivers to communicate to global positioning system satellites;
and
(3) using received signals from the global positioning system satellites for determining at least one of position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft.

13 more elements

A fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft comprising:

(a) obtaining input variables related to the aircraft, including at least one of position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft, and communicating the input variables to a fuzzy logic controller;
(b) fuzzifying the input variables into input fuzzy sets by using the fuzzy logic controller;
(c) obtaining fuzzified output variables from the fuzzified input variables;
(d) using the fuzzified output variables to calculate crisp output values for controlling the aircraft;
and
(e) executing commands based on the crisp output values wherein the commands control the aircraft;
wherein:
(f) obtaining position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft further comprises:
(1) locating global positioning system receivers at extremities of the aircraft;
(2) using the global positioning receivers to communicate to global positioning system satellites;
and
(3) using received signals from the global positioning system satellites for determining at least one of position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft;
and
(g) at least some of the output variables are thrust vectoring flight control variables and at least some of the commands are thrust vectoring flight control commands.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuzzy logic based emergency flight control with thrust vectoring capability

Life of this patent

Fuzzy logic based emergency flight control with thrust vectoring capability

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15