Autonomous Aircraft Near-Flight Maneuvers for Stability Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pre-flight checks for autonomous aircraft are limited in assessing dynamic stability and center-of-gravity (CG) management, particularly for payloads, which can lead to instability and safety issues during flight.
Innovation Solution
The method involves executing near-flight testing maneuvers using onboard sensors and motors to evaluate airworthiness and stability by performing sequences of tilts, jerks, and altitude changes, allowing for real-time data collection and adjustments to payload positioning or flight parameters to ensure safe flight conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional static pre-flight checks are performed to calculate center-of-gravity, then the calculation process is simple and quick, but the assessment of dynamic stability is insufficient leading to potential flight instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary dynamic stability testing through near-flight maneuvers before actual flight operations. The autonomous aircraft executes a sequence of test maneuvers (tilts, turns, altitude changes) prior to flight to assess stability characteristics, allowing stability assessment to be performed in advance rather than during actual flight operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous aircraft performs self-testing and self-assessment of its stability characteristics through near-flight maneuvers. The system uses its own onboard sensors and control systems to execute test sequences and evaluate its performance, eliminating the need for external testing equipment or complex ground-based testing apparatus.
2Measurement precision
If near-flight testing maneuvers are executed to assess dynamic stability, then accurate stability evaluation is achieved, but time consumption increases compared to static checks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a limited sequence of essential near-flight maneuvers rather than exhaustive testing. The test sequence includes only the critical maneuvers needed to assess stability (tilts, turns, altitude changes) rather than all possible flight conditions, providing sufficient accuracy while minimizing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The near-flight testing maneuvers are executed quickly in a condensed sequence rather than prolonged gradual testing. The autonomous aircraft rapidly performs the test maneuvers and collects data in a short time window, allowing fast assessment without extended testing periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory process-readable media for evaluating operating conditions of an autonomous aircraft before performing a mission by executing brief near-flight testing maneuvers at a low elevation. A processor of the autonomous aircraft may receive near-flight testing maneuver instructions that indicate a near-flight testing maneuver to be executed by the autonomous aircraft. The processor may control motors to cause the aircraft to execute a near-flight testing maneuver within a testing area, obtain data indicating stability and performance information while executing the near-flight testing maneuvers, and take an action in response to the obtained data. Actions may include adjusting a position of a payload, a weight or a portion of the aircraft based, and adjusting a flight plan. The near-flight testing maneuvers may include a sequence of moves for testing stability of the aircraft and payload executing a flight path under anticipated flying conditions.