Rotorcraft autopilot control
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsCarl D. Griffith, Brady G. Atkins, Awais Raza, Paul M. Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotorcraft autopilot system includes a series actuator connecting a cockpit control component to a swashplate of a rotorcraft, the series actuator to modify a control input from the cockpit control component to the swashplate through a downstream control component. The rotorcraft autopilot system also includes a differential friction system connected to the cockpit control component, the differential friction system to control the series actuator to automatically adjust a position of the cockpit control component during rotorcraft flight based, in part, on a flight mode of the rotorcraft.
Claims18
A rotorcraft autopilot system, comprising:
- a series actuator connecting a cockpit control component to a swashplate of a rotorcraft, the series actuator to modify a control input from the cockpit control component to the swashplate through a downstream control component;
- a differential friction system connected to the cockpit control component and the downstream control component, the differential friction system comprising a variable friction device grounded to the rotorcraft proximate the downstream control component, the variable friction device configured to increase or decrease a friction on the downstream control component;
- and
- wherein the differential friction system is configured to selectively apply the friction on the downstream component to control the series actuator to automatically adjust a position of the cockpit control component during rotorcraft flight based, in part, on a flight mode of the rotorcraft.
A method, comprising:
- determining a flight mode of a rotorcraft;
- identifying a swashplate position of the rotorcraft corresponding to the determined flight mode;
- and
- applying a friction on a downstream control component connecting a series actuator to the swashplate to substantially prevent a movement of the downstream control component such that a cockpit control position of a rotorcraft cockpit control component connected to the series actuator by an upstream control component is adjusted by a differential friction across the series actuator.
A method for controlling rotorcraft flight, the method comprising:
- providing a variable friction device connected to a downstream linkage, a series actuator connected to the variable friction device, and an upstream linkage connected to the series actuator;
- adjusting a differential friction between the upstream linkage and the downstream linkage relative to the series actuator using the variable friction device to allow movement of the upstream linkage and prevent movement of the downstream linkage;
- and
- controlling actuation of the series actuator in response to the adjusted differential friction between the upstream linkage and the downstream linkage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.