547results about "Actuated automatically" patented technology

An unmanned aerial vehicle that transports harvested crops harvested from a field, includes a flight device to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly, a controller configured or programmed to control operation of the flight device, a communication device to receive package position information indicating a first position where a target package for transport containing the harvested crops is located, and package weight information, and a support device to support the target package. The controller is configured or programmed to determine, based on the package weight information, whether the target package can be transported to a second position different from the first position, and when doing so, control the flight device to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly to the first position, cause the support device to support the target package, and control the flight device to cause the unmanned aerial vehicle to fly to the second position.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are contemplated for electric powered vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Such are craft are engineered to carry safely carry at least 500 pounds (approx. 227 kg) using a few (e.g., 2-4) rotors, generally variable speed rigid (non-articulated) rotors. It is contemplated that one or more rotors generate a significant amount of lift (e.g., 70%) during rotorborne flight (e.g., vertical takeoff, hover, etc), and tilt to provide forward propulsion during wingborne flight. The rotors preferably employ individual blade control, and are battery powered. The vehicle preferably flies in an autopilot or pilotless mode and has a relatively small (e.g., less than 45′ diameter) footprint.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are contemplated for electric powered vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Such are craft are engineered to carry safely carry at least 500 pounds (approx. 227 kg) using a few (e.g., 2-4) rotors, generally variable speed rigid (non-articulated) rotors. It is contemplated that one or more rotors generate a significant amount of lift (e.g., 70%) during rotorborne flight (e.g., vertical takeoff, hover, etc), and tilt to provide forward propulsion during wingborne flight. The rotors preferably employ individual blade control, and are battery powered. The vehicle preferably flies in an autopilot or pilotless mode and has a relatively small (e.g., less than 45′ diameter) footprint.

A flight path generation system for generating a three-dimensional flight path for an unmanned aerial vehicle includes an acquisition device to acquire route data including information of a two-dimensional flight path of the unmanned aerial vehicle and map data including information of elevation at each point on the two-dimensional flight path, and a processor configured or programmed to generate the three-dimensional flight path by determining a flight altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle from a ground on the two-dimensional flight path based on the two-dimensional flight path and the elevation. The processor is configured or programmed to determine the flight altitude in an excess region with an altitude not exceeding a first altitude and a first region with an altitude not exceeding the first altitude, such that a maximum value of the flight altitude of the unmanned aerial vehicle in the excess region does not exceed the first altitude.

Systems, methods, and devices include an aerial vehicle (AV) with a plurality of coaxially aligned vertical ducts. The lower vertical duct has a larger diameter than the upper vertical duct. Furthermore, the upper vertical duct at least partially contains a first propulsion component and the lower vertical duct at least partially contains a second propulsion component. The lower vertical duct can be coupled to the upper vertical duct by duct couplers which forms an air intake gap between the upper vertical duct and the lower vertical duct. The AV also includes one or more steering flaps disposed on the lower vertical duct, configured to manipulate an air flow out the bottom of the lower duct, thus controlling navigation and stability of the AV.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are contemplated for electric powered vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Such are craft are engineered to carry safely carry at least 500 pounds (approx. 227 kg) using a few (e.g., 2-4) rotors, generally variable speed rigid (non-articulated) rotors. It is contemplated that one or more rotors generate a significant amount of lift (e.g., 70%) during rotorborne flight (e.g., vertical takeoff, hover, etc), and tilt to provide forward propulsion during wingborne flight. The rotors preferably employ individual blade control, and are battery powered. The vehicle preferably flies in an autopilot or pilotless mode and has a relatively small (e.g., less than 45′ diameter) footprint.

A device may include a locking assembly configured for coupling with an aileron of an aircraft, the locking assembly includes a lock configured for coupling with the aileron. The locking assembly may include a lock mechanism operatively coupled with the lock and in communication with an accelerometer, where the lock mechanism is configured to transition the lock from a locked configuration to a released configuration. The lock mechanism opens the lock based on a specified acceleration measured with the accelerometer, and the lock frees the aileron to a dynamic configuration. A device may include a tailored aileron deployment system including a biasing member coupled with the aileron, in the released configuration the biasing member controls movement of the aileron in the dynamic configuration.

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for flight control of aircrafts driven by electric propulsion systems and in other types of vehicles. In some embodiments, a flight control system of an aircraft is disclosed, configured to receive one or more signals to control movement of the aircraft, determine at least one flight condition of the aircraft, calculate at least one or more loads associated with the aircraft based on the determined at least one flight condition; determine a flight configuration to alleviate loads on one or more components of the aircraft based on the received one or more signals and the calculated one or more loads by predicting a distribution of loads associated with the aircraft, generate one or more effector commands based on the flight configuration; and actuate one or more aircraft effectors based on the one or more effector commands.

An Internet-of-Things-based management system and method for transmission of airship data. In the method, a state prediction module performs comprehensive calculation on multi-source data on the basis of the positive and negative correlation of the multi-source data, and then generates an airship index, and predicts the flight state of an airship by means of a comparison result between the airship index and an anomaly threshold value; when it is predicted that the flight state of the airship is poor, a remote control platform automatically takes over a flight control module, and an airship base station operator controls the use of the flight control module by means of the remote control platform; when it is predicted that the flight state of the airship is poor, the remote control platform first searches for the nearest airship base station to the airship; and if the airship base station meets an airship landing condition, the airship base station operator can control the airship to land at the nearest base station. When an airship flies, multi-source data is effectively analyzed to predict the flight state of the airship, so that the airship can be controlled and managed in a timely manner before the airship is abnormal, thereby ensuring the safe use of the airship.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing a copilot replacement system (CPRS) that enables dual-pilot or multi-pilot aircraft to be operated by a single onboard pilot. This disclosure also relates to systems and method for integrating an artificial intelligence (AI) controller into the aircraft, which autonomously provides assistance with controlling operation of the aircraft. Amongst other things, the solutions described herein can autonomously execute various functions for controlling the aircraft and / or can establish connections with one or more copilot ground base stations (GBSs) that enable ground-based copilots to remotely provide assistance with operating the aircraft. Both onboard pilots and remote pilots can be provided with override controls that enable the pilots to override, cancel, and / or modify actions undertaken by the AI controller.

[Problem] To provide an unmanned aerial vehicle, a method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle, a program, a control system, and a control device with which it is possible to detect an unexpected object during flight and perform appropriate emergency control. [Solution] An unmanned aerial vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an imaging device that is provided to the unmanned aerial vehicle and generates a captured image; an object detection unit that detects an object from the captured image; a determination unit that determines whether the object detected by the object detection unit satisfies a predetermined condition; and a flight control unit that, when the determination unit determines that the condition is satisfied, causes the own vehicle body to execute emergency control.

Principles described herein allow for wings to be optimized for aerodynamic and structural efficiency while reducing planform compromises required to address wing tip stall problems. All-moving outboard wings allow the outboard wing local angle of attack to be changed relative to the inner wing region to avoid tip stall at high aircraft angles of attack, such as that which is required for low-speed flight. During high-speed cruise flight, at low aircraft angle of attack, the outboard wing local angle of attack can be increased to achieve an ideal elliptical lift distribution.

An automated control system for a glider towed by a tug employs a sensor system (e.g., cameras mounted on at least one of the aircraft) to determine the relative position and velocity of the glider. A controller determines corrections to the flight characteristics of the glider in response to this data from the sensor system to maintain the glider on the surface of a limit sphere extending behind the tug with a predetermined radius based on the length of the tow cable. An interface to the flight controls of the glider maintains the desired flight characteristics of the glider provided by the controller.

An aircraft wing is disclosed having a fixed wing with a tip, and a wing tip device rotatably mounted on a hinge at the tip of the fixed wing, such that the wing tip device is rotatable about the hinge, and an actuation system for rotating the wing tip device about the hinge. The actuation system includes a motor, at least one geared rotary actuator, a reduction gearbox, a clutch for selectively decoupling rotation of the motor from rotation of the geared rotary actuator, the geared rotary actuator is driveable by the motor and arranged to convert rotary motion into a different rotary motion and is arranged to rotate the wing tip device relative to the tip of the fixed wing. The clutch is coupled to the geared rotary actuator by a shaft and the shaft is fixed in rotation to a mass disposed radially outwardly from the shaft.

A control device controls a flight of an eVTOL including a rotary wing which is driven by a driving device to generate a rotational lift, a fixed wing which generates a gliding lift, and a lift adjustment mechanism which adjusts the gliding lift. The control device includes a rotary wing control unit which adjusts the rotational lift by controlling driving of the rotary wing, and a fixed wing control unit which adjusts the gliding lift by controlling driving of the lift adjustment mechanism. When an abnormality of the driving device is predicted or detected in a flight time of an electric flight vehicle, the rotary wing control unit and the fixed wing control unit perform lift adjustment control such that the rotary wing control unit reduces the rotational lift and the fixed wing control unit increases the gliding lift.

Examples relate to uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and methods for controlled descent during control tier failures. A computing device may initially detect a control tier failure at an UAV. In some examples, the UAV includes a fuselage, a pair of wings extending outwardly from the fuselage, and a pair of stabilizers arranged in a V-shape configuration. Each stabilizer has a control surface that is adjustable relative to a fixed portion of the stabilizer. Based on detecting the control tier failure at the UAV, the computing device may adjust the control surface of each stabilizer from a first angle to a second angle relative to the fixed portion of the stabilizer. By adjusting the angle between the control surfaces and fixed portions of one or both stabilizers, the UAV may induce a deep stall maneuver that can enable a controlled descent of the UAV.

The present disclosure is generally directed to a flight control system and method of flight control for an electric aircraft. The system includes a pilot input communicatively connected to an electric aircraft, wherein the pilot input is configured to receive an input datum, and plurality of flight components communicatively connected to the electric aircraft, wherein the plurality of flight components includes a plurality of control surfaces. The system also includes a flight controller, wherein the flight controller is configured to determine a phase of flight, determine a command datum to control a position of the plurality of control surfaces as a function of the input datum, and command, when the phase of flight is determined to be hover, the plurality of control surfaces using the command datum.

To provide a system and a method for mounting and dismounting a device on and from an electric cable by using a flying object.SOLUTION: The system and the method and / or a computer program are for mounting and dismounting a device on and from an electric cable of a distribution network. The mounted device includes a first coupling part disposed to attach the mounted device to a flying object, a second coupling part disposed to attach a cable device to the mounted device, and a navigation part that operates to enable a user to navigate the flying object so as to direct a slot of the cable device toward the electric cable, and / or automatically navigate the flying object to direct the slot of the cable device toward the electric cable, and / or enable the user to navigate the flying object toward the cable device, and / or automatically navigate the flying object toward the cable device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

A craft comprises a hull, a wing, a hydrofoil, and a control system. The wing is configured to generate upwards aero lift as air flows past the wing to facilitate wing-borne flight of the craft. The hydrofoil is configured to generate upwards hydrofoil lift during a first mode of operation as water flows past the hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water. While the craft is hydrofoil-borne, the control system is configured to determine the upwards aero lift generated by the wing. The control system is further configured to control the hydrofoil to generate downwards hydrofoil lift to counteract the upwards aero lift generated by the wing that maintains the hydrofoil at least partially submerged in the water while the determined upwards aero lift is below a threshold lift.

Provided are a method and a system for cooperative airborne meteorological perception with multiple aircraft. The method includes: determining a training set based on a spatial position, motion data, weather, an observation image, and static information of each of multiple aircraft; determining a fusion performance function based on an objective of a cooperative perception network; generating a fusion model based on the training set and the fusion performance function; generating a perception result image based on the fusion model; determining flight risk information based on the perception result image; determining a route alarm command and sending the route alarm command to a management user interface and an interactive device of a target aircraft; after receiving the route alarm command, generating, by the management user interface, a route adjustment parameter; in response to obtaining the route adjustment parameter, performing at least one of the following operations: adjusting an engine velocity, adjusting an aileron pressure, adjusting an elevator deflection, and adjusting a rudder deflection.

An electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft comprises a fuselage and a tilt wing. The tilt wing is tiltable relative to the fuselage in a range of tilt wing angles. Control surfaces are arranged at the tilt wings. The aircraft comprises a horizontal stabilizer with an elevator, in particular a stabilator, a vertical stabilizer with a rudder, in particular a fully movable stabilizer, at least one electric engine for powering main propellers arranged at the tilt wing and at least one software control device. The control device is configured to control at least the control surfaces , the main propellers and the tilt wing angle during hover and transition between hover and cruise flight.

A craft comprises at least one hull; at least one wing configured to generate upwards aero lift as air flows past the at least one wing to facilitate wing-borne flight of the craft; a front hydrofoil connected to the at least one hull via a front hydrofoil strut and configured to generate upward hydrofoil lift as water flows past the front hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water; a rear hydrofoil connected to the at least one hull via a rear hydrofoil strut and configured to generate upward hydrofoil lift as water flows past the rear hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water; and a control system. While the craft is hydrofoil-borne, the control system is configured to facilitate transition of the craft from hydrofoil-borne operation to wing-borne operation via a process comprising: while the upwards aero lift generated by the at least one wing is below a threshold lift, controlling one or both of the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to generate a downward hydrofoil lift that causes the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to remain at least partially submerged in the water; and after the upwards aero lift generated by the at least one wing has increased above the threshold lift, transitioning the craft from hydrofoil-borne operation to wing-borne operation at least in part by controlling one or both of the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to switch from (a) generating the downward hydrofoil lift to (b) generating an upward hydrofoil lift that pushes the craft up and out of the water.

A delivery device that travels along rails and delivers a package is provided. The rails include at least first and second rails. The delivery device includes: a main body; a connector that is configured to be connected to the rails, with the main body hanging from the connector, and with the rails being spaced apart from a ground surface; at least one actuator that drives the connector; a lift motor that is capable of taking up a wire for unloading the package; and a control circuit. When the delivery device is slidably hung from the first rail, the control circuit: switches from the first rail to the second rail by controlling the actuator; and lets out the wire and lowers the package by controlling the lift motor.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are contemplated for electric powered vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Such are craft are engineered to carry safely carry at least 500 pounds (approx. 227 kg) using a few (e.g., 2-4) rotors, generally variable speed rigid (non-articulated) rotors. It is contemplated that one or more rotors generate a significant amount of lift (e.g., 70%) during rotorborne flight (e.g., vertical takeoff, hover, etc), and tilt to provide forward propulsion during wingborne flight. The rotors preferably employ individual blade control, and are battery powered. The vehicle preferably flies in an autopilot or pilotless mode and has a relatively small (e.g., less than 45′ diameter) footprint.

The present invention relates to a method for enriching a structured database intended to assist a pilot of an aircraft in decision-making. The method comprises the following steps:obtaining an initial structured database, called the initial structured base, comprising a plurality of objects,determination of at least two indicators from the group of indicators consisting of: a frequency indicator, an interconnection indicator, a relevance indicator, and a precision indicator,comparison of each determined indicator with at least one respective threshold,if the result of the comparison is negative, sending an enrichment command of the initial structured database to form an enriched structured database, called enriched structured base, comprising a larger number of objects than the initial structured base.

A rotorcraft with at least one main rotor and at least one engine for powering the at least one main rotor in a normal flight mode, comprising an autorotation training mode control system that is activatable for switching rotorcraft operation between the normal flight mode and an autorotation training mode configured to enable training of autorotation, wherein the autorotation training mode control system comprises at least one main control element that is manually operable for activating the autorotation training mode control system and switching the rotorcraft operation from the normal flight mode to the autorotation training mode to engage the autorotation training mode.

A closed, self-contained ballistic apogee detection module for use in a projectile, such as a rocket, mortar round, or artillery round, fuses data from multiple built-in sensors, such as an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope, and processes the data using a microprocessor through a custom quaternion extended Kalman filter to provide accurate state and orientation information about the projectile so as to accurately predict apogee. The module outputs a signal indicating apogee detection or prediction which they projectile uses to initiate fuze arming, targeting control, airbody transformation, maneuvering, flow effector deployment or activation, payload exposure or deployment, and / or other mission activity. Because the system and method of the invention does not rely on external environmental data to detect apogee, it need not use a pressure sensor and can be completely sealed in and closed without requiring access to air from outside the projectile for barometric readings.

A flight control system for an aircraft including a first set of primary flight control computers and a second set of secondary flight control computers, where each primary flight control computer implements a first autopilot functionality. The secondary flight control computers jointly take control of control surface actuators when the primary flight control computers fail. The flight control system further includes another computer, to which the secondary flight control computers are connected, which implements a simplified second autopilot functionality, the second autopilot functionality being able to be activated only when the second set of flight control computers has control of the control surface actuators. Thus, an autopilot functionality is widely available, while at the same time ensuring the robustness sought by the installation of the secondary flight control computers.