758results about "Actuated personally" patented technology

A servo controlled system is disclosed for providing simulated feel equivalent to that of traditional mechanical hand controllers using servomotors. Position and force sensor signals are processed and used in a feedback loop that controls the motor mechanically connected to the stick. The overall feedback loop is comprised of a low-level motor feedback loop, and high-level force feel loop. The two loops have associated performance parameters that can be specified independently. The high-level feel force loop is comprised of a static and dynamic performance components. Static and dynamic performance components can be specified independently. The system allows variable and / or additional force cues to be specified externally to the system and felt by the operator. The system also allows external signal to backdrive die stick to follow a specified motion. The control framework permits the electronic coupling of the motion and applied forces of pilot and co-pilots in a dual arrangement while retaining the above-mentioned features. It also allows asymmetric force feel gradients to be implemented for each stick, or for a stick relative to a second one. A zero breakout or detent can be provided at the stick null displacement. For cross-coupled sticks, the detent can be shared as in a mechanically cross-coupled system, implemented independently on each slick, or any combination of these two. The control framework also provides the simulation of mechanical compliance in the cross-coupling of the two sticks in case of a jam or of force fight between the pilots, and automatic de-coupling of the sticks.

The present invention provides computer implemented methodology that permits the safe landing and recovery of rotorcraft following engine failure. With this invention successful autorotations may be performed from well within the unsafe operating area of the height-velocity profile of a helicopter by employing the fast and robust real-time trajectory optimization algorithm that commands control motion through an intuitive pilot display, or directly in the case of autonomous rotorcraft. The algorithm generates optimal trajectories and control commands via the direct-collocation optimization method, solved using a nonlinear programming problem solver. The control inputs computed are collective pitch and aircraft pitch, which are easily tracked and manipulated by the pilot or converted to control actuator commands for automated operation during autorotation in the case of an autonomous rotorcraft. The formulation of the optimal control problem has been carefully tailored so the solutions resemble those of an expert pilot, accounting for the performance limitations of the rotorcraft and safety concerns.

A flight control system for aircraft, such as for a vehicle with a ducted fan propulsion system which also produces rotary moments and side forces for control purposes. The flight control system of the present invention is designed in a manner that will ensure the safety of the vehicle in event of a malfunction in any one of its channels and enable the flight to continue down to a safe landing.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a flight control system for controlling an aircraft in flight having a backup control system integrated into an active control stick. The actuated control stick may include a processing unit that includes independent and separate hardware and / or software dedicated to the primary control system and the backup control system. For the primary control system, the processing unit may receive a sensed primary control stick signal and communicate with a primary processor, which may be configured to generate a primary control signal. For the backup control system, the processing unit may receive a sensed backup control stick signal and generate a backup control signal. The processing unit may also generate tactile signal for use by the actuated control stick to adjust the feel of a pilot's control stick.

A kinetic energy system which transfers the kinetic landing into recoverable electric energy for an aircraft. The system incorporates at least one wheel supporting the aircraft for landing and takeoff coupled with a dynamic functioning motor / generator mounted to and operated by rotation of the wheel to create electrical energy from kinetic energy. An induction shoe structurally connected to the aircraft and electrically connected to the motor / generator, which shoe draws the converted energy from the generator which supplies the load created by the inductively coupled induction shoe to the an ancillary load provided by the resistive heat sink on by the capacitor storage bank. This provides the generator circuit for conversion of the rotational energy of the wheel to electrical energy and creates braking drag. In exemplary embodiments, the system employs an energy storage system acting as the load to store electrical potential energy created by the generator. Additionally, the generator is employable as a motor, receiving energy from the storage system for traction power to the associated aircraft wheel. An induction grid or a surface mounted conductive layer mounted into or onto a runway is employed for transferring energy to and from the motor / generator.

An aircraft flap (or slat) drive apparatus includes first and second centralized drive units that respectively rotationally drive first and second drive lines in both wings. The first drive line includes shaft segments connected end-to-end by selectively engageable separating devices. The outboard ends of the first and second drive lines are coupled through one of the separating devices, in each wing. At least one actuator mechanism connects each flap to a respective shaft segment of the first drive line, and converts the drive line rotational motion to a flap translational motion. If a component breaks, jams, or otherwise fails, it is isolated by disengaging the two adjacent separating devices with the faulty component therebetween, so that the rest of the apparatus remains functional. Each one or both of the drive units can drive one or more or all of the flaps through the interconnected first and second drive lines.

An ergonomic control system is disclosed for monitoring and / or controlling ergonomic settings of one or more adjustable furniture units at a user's worksite. The furniture units may include, e.g., a table, a chair, a worksite lighting mechanism, a thermostat, computer monitor, and computer keyboard, and a phone. The control system is distributed over a network, with a central administration subsystem receiving ergonomic current setting data regarding adjustable furniture units from worksites in use. Such current setting data is associated with the current worksite user and stored for subsequent comparison with preferred ergonomic settings thereby to identify users whose settings may be detrimental to their health.

A system and method which implement automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text-to-speech (TTS) programs to permit pilots, co-pilots, and other persons to more quickly and easily perform control and monitoring tasks on aircraft. The system may be used to automatically change the frequency of an aircraft radio when a pilot or co-pilot is instructed to do so by ATC.

Various embodiments of the present invention comprise systems for providing a lifesaving apparatus to a distressed individual. Such systems may comprise an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to selectably support a lifesaving apparatus. The UAV may comprise a release mechanism configured to release the lifesaving apparatus when proximate a distressed person. The system may additionally comprise a control device configured to wirelessly communicate with the UAV such that a user can pilot the UAV from a distance and deliver the lifesaving apparatus to a distressed person. Methods of using the same may comprise piloting the UAV proximate a distressed person, providing a signal to the UAV to release the lifesaving apparatus by operating the release mechanism, and then pulling the lifesaving apparatus and the distressed person to safety via a control line secured to the lifesaving apparatus.

An aircraft air-conditioning system provides ventilation, air-conditioning and fire protection for a below-deck stairwell and cargo hold that may be equipped with passenger sleeping compartment containers. An air mixing unit mixes fresh air and recycled air to supply mixed air through a first supply air main line (31) and a supply air unit (21) into the freight hold (4), and through a second supply air main line (32) into the stairwell (5). A trimming air unit (7A) provides hot bleed air from the aircraft engines into the mixed air supplied through the first and second supply air main lines (31, 32). An exhaust air line (11) extracts exhaust air from the freight hold (4), while an exhaust air supplemental line (15) extracts exhaust air from the stairwell (5), both of which are connected to an exhaust air main line with an exhaust air ventilator (16) that blows the exhaust air overboard. A bypass line (8) provides bypass air if needed for the demands of the ventilator (16). Regulating valves and non-return flap valves in the supply air line and in the exhaust air line regulate the flow of air and prevent back-flow. Temperature sensors are connected to a controller that regulates the temperature of the mixed supply air to achieve a comfortable temperature in the freight hold and in the stairwell. In the event of fire, the air valves are closed, to seal-off the freight hold (4) and prevent the spread of smoke into the stairwell or other ventilated areas.

An apparatus for driving a taxiing aircraft is disclosed, comprising, in an aircraft, two self-propelled nosewheels, each having an electric motor; equipment for flight; dual-function controlling means for controlling said equipment for flight and said nosewheels, said dual-function controlling means being disposed in the cockpit of said aircraft; sensing means; and switching means, —wherein said switching means are operable to switch the function of said dual-function controlling means between controlling said equipment for flight and controlling said nosewheels. Said dual function controlling means may control speed and / or steering of the aircraft. Second controlling means may be provided, and may be disposed externally to the aircraft.

An ultralight coaxial dual rotor helicopter having a substantially L shaped frame. Attached to the back of the frame is a vertical shaft engine, and a pair of yaw paddles for controlling yaw of the craft. The drive shaft connects to a belt drive at the top of the frame, which transmits the engine power to a transmission and coaxial drive gear for driving the rotors. Crank actuators are provided for tilting the rotor axis to control the pitch and roll of the craft. A pilot seat and ballast tank are attached to the front of the frame. The ballast tank may be filled with a volume of water to balance the craft for the weight of the pilot. The fuel tank is located behind the pilot seat on the centerline of the helicopter, such that as fuel is used and the weight of fuel in the tank changes, the balance of the craft will not be affected.

A device for controlling vehicles having a manual control unit configured to influence the direction of movement of a vehicle. The manual control unit provides, in a neutral position of the manual control unit, a trim point to determine a preferred direction of movement. The device further includes a force generating device, generating at least one force acting in the direction of the neutral position of the manual control unit; a trim coupling operable to reduce the at least one force acting on the manual control unit; and a trim control unit configured to store and retain the trim point existing prior to an operation of the trim coupling.

The present invention provides a vehicle with redundant systems to increase the overall safety of the vehicle. In other aspects, the present invention provides a method for learning control of non-linear motion systems through combined learning of state value and action-value functions.

A servo-controlled system is disclosed for providing simulated feel equivalent to that of traditional mechanical hand controllers. Processed position and force sensor signals are used in a feedback loop that controls the motor mechanically connected to the stick. The feedback loop comprises a low-level motor feedback loop, and high-level force feel loop. The latter comprises static and dynamic performance components. The system allows variable and additional force cues to be specified externally to the system and felt by the operator, and / or external signal to backdrive the stick to follow a specified motion. The control framework permits the electronic coupling of the motion and applied forces by pilots in a dual arrangement while retaining the above-mentioned features. It simulates cross-coupling mechanical compliance due to force fight between pilots, detents and asymmetric force feel gradients. Parameters associated with loops and performance components can be specified independently.

A tactile warning system for warning a helicopter pilot of a pre-selected altitude during a landing maneuver includes a collective control arm for control of the aircraft and a tactile warning device operatively connected to the collective control arm. The system includes a radio altimeter for sensing the actual altitude, a computer and keyboard for inputting a pre-selected height above the ground into the computer memory. A signal generator generates a signal indicative of the actual altitude as the aircraft approaches the ground. Then, when the actual altitude is equal to or less then the pre-selected altitude the system activates the tactile device. The warning system indicative of reaching a pre-selected height is also combined with a tactile warning system for avoiding “hot starts” and for avoiding other dangerous conditions.

Improved miniature trailing edge effectors for aerodynamic control are provided. Three types of devices having aerodynamic housings integrated to the trailing edge of an aerodynamic shape are presented, which vary in details of how the control surface can move. A bucket type device has a control surface which is the back part of a C-shaped member having two arms connected by the back section. The C-shaped section is attached to a housing at the ends of the arms, and is rotatable about an axis parallel to the wing trailing edge to provide up, down and neutral states. A flip-up type device has a control surface which rotates about an axis parallel to the wing trailing edge to provide up, down, neutral and brake states. A rotating type device has a control surface which rotates about an axis parallel to the chord line to provide up, down and neutral states.

A method and apparatus for tactile cueing of aircraft controls (21) is disclosed. The apparatus of the present invention warns pilots of approaching limits on certain aircraft performance parameters. The most common warnings are for rotor speed exceeding a moving limit. The present invention uses tactile cueing through the collective stick (21). Tactile cueing means that the pilot does not need to scan the intruments to ascertain proximity to the aforementioned limits. Instead, the pilot can operate the aircraft within proper limits by touch, while maintaining situational awareness outside of the cockpit (20). The method and apparatus of the present invention provides customary friction resistance up to a limit position that is continuously updated. According to the present invention, continued motion of the collective (21) in a direction beyond that limit position results in a breakout force and an increasing resistive force.

Control system for a control surface (100) of an aircraft comprising at least one actuator (102, 104) of the control surface, connected to a hydraulic circuit and equipped with at least two power jacks (110) capable of operating in at least one activated mode and one deactivated mode. According to the invention, the system also comprises a control unit (114) capable of making a number of jacks operate in activated mode depending on the aircraft flight conditions.Application to aircraft.

A servo-controlled system is disclosed for providing simulated feel equivalent to that of traditional mechanical hand controllers. Processed position and force sensor signals are used in a feedback loop that controls the motor mechanically connected to the stick. The feedback loop comprises a low-level motor feedback loop, and high-level force feel loop. The latter comprises static and dynamic performance components. The system allows variable and additional force cues to be specified externally to the system and felt by the operator, and / or external signal to backdrive die stick to follow a specified motion. The control framework permits the electronic coupling of motion and applied forces by pilots in a dual arrangement while retaining the above-mentioned features. It simulates cross-coupling mechanical compliance due to force fight between pilots detents and asymmetric force feel gradients. Parameters associated with loops and performance components can be specified independently.

A method of propulsion and attitude control in fluid environments is disclosed by examples of preferred embodiments of vehicles utilizing said methodology. The preferred embodiment of a vehicle utilizing said invention comprises at least one pair of left and right wing assemblies of an airfoil profile separated by a fuselage that combine to form a fluid dynamic body. Each wing assembly houses within its interior at least two longitudinally adjacent, counter-rotating drive-fans mounted on fixed approximately vertical axes that are capable of being powered by various means. Each wing assembly has operable interior and exterior venting means that control fluid flow to, from and between respective drive-fans. Each wing assembly has control surfaces at its trailing edge and is itself hinged to the fuselage with means to change the dihedral of the wing assembly. Each wing assembly has surfaces of designed permeability that create a dynamic laminar flow envelope about the vehicle. The fuselage comprises a forward cockpit / cabin area and a fluid channel located laterally between left and right wing assemblies with means to control flow between said wing assemblies. The preferred embodiment may be constructed to any scale while using various construction techniques common knowledge to marine and aircraft construction, as well as easily modified to suit role and performance.

An aircraft flight surface actuator has at least one eccentric cam mechanism, the eccentric cam mechanism imparting movement onto the flight surface.

A heliplane operates with a fixed wing at high velocities, and particularly at high advance ratios, while using a rotary wing maintained in motion at all speeds. At high advance ratios, the rotor wing eventually may be rotated primarily to maintain its stability, rather than depending upon the majority of lift. Meanwhile, a collective pitch control is provided and located between pilot and copilot. A single control provides control of both collective pitch and throttle by both pilots. One pilot will have to operate the control with the left hand, while the other may use their right hand. Nevertheless, both throttles push away from the pilot, regardless of which one is in control of the aircraft, while a single collective lever is relied upon.

An autogyro, or aircraft with a rotating wing, has an airframe providing a motorcycle-like configuration for the rider. The motorcycle-like straddle-type seat locates the rider in front of the rotating wing, behind a teardrop shaped simulated fuel tank, and above the motorcycle engine used for turning the front-mounted propeller. A motorcycle-like handlebar controls the aircraft, including the adjustment for the rotating wing axis of rotation with respect to the aircraft and the engine throttle. Additional controls for operating the aircraft on the ground, such as wheel brakes and the steering, are also controlled from the handlebar.

A device for the control of a control surface of an aircraft has at least two actuators (110, 112, 114), each having at least one electric control input (111a, 113a, 115a). At least one of the actuators (115), called the mixed actuator, also has a mechanical control input (115b), and an electric control system for the actuators is able to occupy a state corresponding to a fault of an engine in which at least two of the actuators simultaneously operate the control surface and a state corresponding to an electric fault, in which the mixed actuator (115) operates the control surface from the mechanical control input.

The present invention relates to haptic feedback for operating at least one manual flight control device (21) for controlling the cyclic pitch of the blades (5) of a rotary wing (4) of a hybrid helicopter (1) via power assistance (27). Said operations of said control device (21) are defined according to a predetermined damping force relationship (A) that is a function of an instantaneous load factor of the hybrid helicopter (1) in such a manner that the instantaneous load factor is maintained between its minimum and maximum limit values in proportion to a position of a thrust control member (20) between its minimum and maximum thrust values (23, 22).

A flight control surface actuator assembly includes a pair of flight control surface actuators and a pivot arm. One of the flight control surface actuators is coupled to a flight control surface and a static airframe structure, the other flight control surface actuator is coupled to the flight control surface and the pivot arm. The pivot arm coupled to the static airframe structure and is configured to pivot relative to the second flight control surface actuator and the static airframe structure.

A hybrid actuator assembly includes an actuator housing, an electromechanical actuator, and a hydraulic actuator. The electromechanical actuator is disposed at least partially within the actuator housing and is adapted to be controllably energized. The electromechanical actuator is configured, upon being controllably energized, to supply a first drive force. The hydraulic actuator is disposed at least partially within the actuator housing and is adapted to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic actuator is configured, upon receipt of pressurized hydraulic fluid, to supply a second drive force.

A tactile warning system for warning a helicopter pilot of a pre-selected altitude during a landing maneuver includes a collective control arm for control of the aircraft and a tactile warning device operatively connected to the collective control arm. The system includes a radio altimeter for sensing the actual altitude, a computer and keyboard for inputting a pre-selected height above the ground into the computer memory. A signal generator generates a signal indicative of the actual altitude as the aircraft approaches the ground. Then, when the actual altitude is equal to or less then the pre-selected altitude the system activates the tactile device. The warning system indicative of reaching a pre-selected height is also combined with a tactile warning system for avoiding “hot starts” and for avoiding other dangerous conditions.

A control system for placing controlled members in required positions including two control columns assigned to the controlled members to be moved, each control column having two degrees of freedom. Two actuators controlled by two control circuits apply to their associated control column either a resisting torque or a displacement torque. Each control column is provided with a mechanical spring system spring-loading the associated control column into its neutral position and adapted to provide, in the event of manipulation of the corresponding control column, a resisting torque in support of the resisting torque supplied by the associated actuator.