Autonomous Rejected Takeoff System for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual rejected takeoff (RTO) procedures in case of single engine failure result in pilot delays, leading to increased accelerate-stop distance requirements, which restricts takeoff weight and payload capacity, and necessitates longer runways, thereby increasing operational costs and reducing aircraft performance.
Innovation Solution
An automatic system that detects engine failure during takeoff and initiates an autonomous abort sequence, reducing pilot response time by automatically applying brakes, reverse thrust, and deploying spoilers without pilot input, using a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) signal to trigger the necessary actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual RTO procedures are used with pilot recognition and action delays, then the system is simpler and easier to operate, but the accelerate-stop distance increases, reducing takeoff weight and payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of engine failure conditions and automatically initiates the RTO sequence without waiting for pilot recognition. The FADEC system continuously monitors engine parameters and pre-prepares the abort sequence, triggering brake application, reverse thrust, and spoiler deployment immediately upon detecting failure conditions, eliminating pilot response delays.
2Productivity
If automatic RTO system is implemented to reduce pilot delays, then the accelerate-stop distance is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The FADEC system serves itself by automatically detecting engine failure conditions and initiating the RTO sequence without external pilot input. The system monitors its own engine parameters, makes the decision to abort, and executes the stopping sequence autonomously, allowing the aircraft to carry maximum payload while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The FADEC system performs multiple functions: normal engine control, failure detection, and automatic RTO initiation. By integrating these functions into a single existing system rather than adding separate dedicated hardware, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving automatic RTO capability.
3Reliability
If longer runways are required to accommodate pilot delays, then safety margins are maintained, but operational costs increase and aircraft range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors engine parameters through FADEC and provides immediate feedback upon detecting failure conditions. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures safety margins are maintained by automatically triggering RTO when needed, while allowing operation from shorter runways since the system responds faster than manual procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed non-limiting embodiment provides important improvements in aircraft performance in short rejected takeoff systems by automatically detecting whether the speed of the aircraft does not exceed Vshort, where Vshort>V1; automatically detecting whether one of said plural engines has failed during takeoff while the aircraft is still in contact with the ground; and if the aircraft speed does not exceed vshort and an engine has failed, automatically performing an autonomous abort takeoff sequence to allow an improved takeoff weight in case of a single engine failure autonomously rejected takeoff. The aircraft's take off weight increase leads to increased payload or fuel quantity. The Payload increase allows for increased passenger and/or cargo capability. The fuel quantity increased allows the aircraft to achieve greater ranges. An aircraft provided with the proposed system, which reduces accelerate-stop distance, may then operate in shorter runways as compared to the prior art.