Adjustable Aircraft Sidestick With Spherical Segment Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aviation sidestick designs face issues such as a large distance between the handle and the axis of rotation, insufficient degrees of freedom, and difficulties in scaling due to the curvature of the hemispherical base, making them cumbersome to use.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a compensating mechanism with a stepper motor and threaded bushing to adjust the gap between the handle and the sphere segment, allowing for a larger radius sphere segment without coincident centers, providing a more even surface for user control and adjustable height to accommodate different hand sizes, and using solenoids with ball joints for feedback simulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hemispherical base is used in the sidestick design, then the device can achieve rotational movement, but the curvature of the base creates difficulty in scaling the design for different hand sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The hemispherical base is segmented into multiple spherical segments arranged in a circle. Each segment can be independently adjusted in height, allowing the surface to be customized for different hand sizes and shapes. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling scalability while maintaining ease of operation through personalized adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical segments are made dynamically adjustable through height adjustment mechanisms. The surface transitions from a fixed curved shape to a dynamically reconfigurable surface that adapts to different users. This dynamic capability allows the same device to be easily operated by users with different hand sizes without being constrained by a fixed curvature.
2Length of stationary object
If the distance between the handle and the axis of rotation is increased, then the device can provide greater leverage, but the device becomes more cumbersome to use
Solution Approach 1:
The optimal distance between the handle and axis of rotation is predetermined and built into the bracket design. The bracket is pre-calculated to provide the ideal leverage ratio, eliminating the need for users to adjust or optimize this parameter during operation. This preliminary optimization resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient leverage while maintaining ease of operation through ergonomic design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of degrees of freedom is increased, then the device can provide more control options, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical segment mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides rotational movement, allows height adjustment, and enables customization for different users. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by increasing adaptability through a single integrated mechanism rather than adding separate complex subsystems for each degree of freedom.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances user comfort and control accuracy by maintaining vertical coaxiality of the sphere's center and focus, allowing for precise operation of various equipment without discomfort, and enables scalable and adaptable device use across different user hand sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a compensating mechanism is located inside the housing provided to automatically adjusts the gap, the compensating mechanism consists of a stepper motor, a screw and a threaded bushing
Implementation Method 2
solenoids with ball bearings (hereinafter-solenoids)
Data Source
AI summary
An aviation sidestick is a device that can be used to control various manned and unmanned equipment, including flying, ground, underwater, to control spacecraft in outer space and to control computer games. It consists of a housing, a handle with buttons and a scroll wheel, a bracket/arm, a compensating mechanism, a fixed base in the form of a spherical segment and a mechanism that simulates feedback located under the compensating mechanism, while the geometric centers of the sphere and the focus of the sphere segment do not coincide, but is positioned on the same axis.