Distributed Flight Controllers for Electric Aircraft Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flight control systems for electric aircraft lack effective redundancy mechanisms to ensure continuous operation in case of actuator or computing device malfunctions, posing safety risks, especially in eVTOL aircraft where malfunctions can occur during flight.
Innovation Solution
A distributed flight control system where multiple controllers receive and process aircraft data to generate allocation commands, allowing for automatic reconfiguration and redundancy by disconnecting malfunctioning controllers and redistributing control tasks among functioning ones, ensuring continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundancy mechanisms are built into the flight control system, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight control system is divided into multiple independent controllers (first controller and second controllers), each capable of autonomous operation. This segmentation allows redundancy without requiring a completely complex unified system, as each controller can function independently if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The second controllers are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as auxiliary controllers and as potential primary controllers if needed. This universal design reduces overall system complexity by using identical or similar controller architectures rather than designing specialized redundant components.
2Reliability
If multiple controllers are used for redundancy, then system reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback mechanisms where the first controller continuously monitors the status of second controllers and automatically adjusts control allocation based on detected malfunctions. This automated feedback loop eliminates the need for manual intervention, maintaining ease of operation despite the presence of multiple controllers.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs self-service through automatic reconfiguration. When a malfunction is detected, the system automatically redistributes control tasks among functioning controllers without requiring pilot intervention, thus maintaining ease of operation while ensuring continuous reliable function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If automatic reconfiguration capability is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing control allocation relationships and malfunction detection criteria. When a malfunction occurs, the system can quickly reconfigure based on pre-programmed responses, reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making while maintaining high adaptability to various failure scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for distributed flight controllers for an electric aircraft is provided. The system includes a plurality of flight components coupled to the electric aircraft, a first controller coupled to an electric aircraft, the first controller configured to receive a plurality of measured aircraft data and generate a controller allocation datum as a function of the plurality of measured aircraft data. The system further includes a plurality of second controllers, wherein each second controller is configured to receive the controller allocation datum from the first controller, generate an allocation command as a function of the controller allocation datum, and provide the allocation command to each flight component of the plurality of flight components.