Aircraft Lift Control Interface for Automated Flap Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilot workload is increased during takeoff and landing phases due to the need to manually operate flap control levers for adjusting aircraft lift devices, which complicates flight operations.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft system featuring actuators coupled to lift devices, a lift device control interface, and a flight control system that enables automatic adjustment of lift devices based on predefined positions or pilot input, reducing the need for manual operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pilot manually operates the flap control lever to adjust lift devices, then the pilot can directly control lift characteristics, but the pilot workload increases during takeoff and landing
Solution Approach 1:
The flight control system automatically determines and adjusts the target lift device position based on flight conditions without requiring continuous pilot input. The system serves itself by monitoring flight parameters and autonomously controlling the lift devices, eliminating the need for manual pilot operation of the flap control lever during critical phases of flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of the flap control lever with an automated flight control system that uses sensors and processors to determine lift device positions. This substitution eliminates the direct mechanical link between pilot hand movements and flap adjustment, replacing it with an electronic control system that automatically adjusts lift based on flight conditions.
2Productivity
If the flight control system automatically determines and sets target lift device position, then pilot workload is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight control system performs multiple functions including monitoring flight conditions, determining optimal lift device positions, and actuating the lift devices. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent improves operational efficiency while managing system complexity through functional integration rather than adding separate dedicated systems for each task.
3Loss of information
If the lift device control interface displays target lift device position, then pilot awareness of automatic control is improved, but the interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lift device control interface provides visual feedback to the pilot by displaying the target lift device position determined by the flight control system. This feedback mechanism keeps the pilot informed about the automatic control actions without requiring complex additional systems, as it utilizes the existing control interface to present information in a clear and accessible manner.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft includes actuators coupled to a lift device. The aircraft also includes a lift device control interface disposed on a flight deck of the aircraft. The lift device control interface is configured to receive a pilot input. The aircraft further includes a flight control system configured to generate a command corresponding to a target lift device position. The flight control system is also configured to send the command to the lift device control interface to cause the lift device control interface to indicate the target lift device position. The flight control system is further configured to send a control signal to the actuators to set the lift device to the target lift device position