Aircraft autonomous pushback
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsJames Morris, Antonio Colosimo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides methods and systems for controlling speed of an aircraft during an autonomous pushback maneuver, i.e. under the aircraft's own power without a pushback tractor. The method includes applying a torque to at least one landing gear wheel of the aircraft, the torque being in a direction opposite to the backwards rolling direction of rotation of the landing gear wheel. The torque applied does not exceed a limit for ensuring aircraft longitudinal stability. For longitudinal stability the torque applied should not cause the aircraft to risk a tip-over event.
Claims43
A method of controlling speed of an aircraft during backwards motion of the aircraft when in contact with the ground, the method comprising:
- applying a torque to at least one landing gear wheel of the aircraft, the torque is in a direction opposite to the backwards rolling direction of rotation of the landing gear wheel,
- wherein the torque applied does not exceed a limit for ensuring aircraft longitudinal stability,
- wherein the torque applied does not exceed a limit at which aircraft longitudinal stability is ensured such that the aircraft cannot tip back onto the aircraft tail,
- wherein the torque applied does not exceed a limit at which aircraft longitudinal stability is ensured such that a nose landing gear of the aircraft does not part contact with the ground, and
- wherein the torque applied does not exceed a limit at which aircraft longitudinal stability is ensured such that a substantially vertical load through a nose landing gear wheel does not fall below a threshold at which a steering centring device maintains the wheel of the nose landing gear straight.
An autonomous pushback braking system for an aircraft having a wheel drive system for driving one or more of the aircraft's landing gear wheels in rotation, wherein the wheel drive system is operable to drive the wheel in rotation to effect backwards motion of the aircraft when in contact with the ground, and a means for applying a torque to at least one landing gear wheel of the aircraft, the torque is in a direction opposite to the backwards rolling direction of rotation of the landing gear wheel, wherein the torque applied does not exceed a limit for ensuring aircraft longitudinal stability,
- wherein the torque applied does not exceed a limit at which aircraft longitudinal stability is ensured such that the aircraft cannot tip back onto the aircraft tail,
- wherein the torque applied does not exceed a limit at which aircraft longitudinal stability is ensured such that a nose landing gear of the aircraft does not part contact with the ground, and
- wherein the torque applied does not exceed a limit at which aircraft longitudinal stability is ensured such that a substantially vertical load through a nose landing gear wheel does not fall below a threshold at which a steering centring device maintains the wheel of the nose landing gear straight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.