Compound Aircraft Control System for Redundant Effector Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compound aircraft control systems lack the ability to automatically optimize control settings for multiple user-selectable objectives, such as speed maximization, vibration reduction, and fuel consumption minimization, due to complexity and redundancy in control options.
Innovation Solution
A control system that selects and applies combinations of trim control settings based on user-defined objectives, using a look-up database and sensor feedback to manage redundant control effectors, allowing pilots to achieve desired flight conditions with reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple redundant control effectors are used in compound aircraft, then control versatility and performance optimization are improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A control system computer acts as an intermediary between the pilot's control inputs and multiple redundant control effectors. The computer automatically distributes control commands among available effectors based on current flight conditions and system status, eliminating the need for the pilot to directly manage complex redundant control configurations while maintaining control versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts control parameter distribution among redundant effectors based on changing flight conditions. The system monitors parameters such as flight phase, control surface position, and system health status to optimize the allocation of control authority, allowing automatic adaptation without increasing pilot workload or system complexity.
2Productivity
If automatic control optimization is implemented for multiple objectives, then flight performance is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-configures multiple control effectors and their associated control laws before flight operations begin. Trim settings, control surface mappings, and optimization parameters are established in advance, allowing the system to automatically optimize flight performance during operation without requiring complex real-time calculations or increasing operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If redundant control options are provided for trimmed flight, then control flexibility is improved, but pilot workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically manages the distribution of control commands among redundant effectors without requiring direct pilot intervention. The system monitors flight conditions and autonomously adjusts control surface positions and trim settings, allowing the aircraft to self-optimize performance while reducing pilot workload to simple supervisory inputs.
Data Source
AI summary
The Invention is a control system for a compound aircraft. A compound aircraft has features of both a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft and provides redundant control options. The control system allows an authorized person to select any of plurality of operational objectives each of which is designed to achieve any particular command.