Dual Side-Stick Inceptor Layout for Consistent VTOL Flight Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft control systems for hybrid and VTOL aircraft cause confusion and increased operator workload due to inconsistent control schemes between rotor-borne and wing-borne flight modes, leading to negative habit transfer and fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A dual two-axis side stick system with left-hand and right-hand inceptors angled at non-zero degrees relative to the vertical direction, allowing consistent control inputs across flight modes, reducing operator workload and mental fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional helicopter control schemes are used for VTOL aircraft, then rotor-borne flight control is intuitive, but wing-borne flight control becomes confusing due to control reversal
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adapts its behavior based on flight mode. The flight control system (314) receives inputs from inceptors and automatically adjusts control directives according to whether the aircraft is in rotor-borne or wing-borne flight mode, eliminating the need for manual control scheme switching and maintaining intuitiveness across all phases
Solution Approach 2:
A single unified control system handles both rotor-borne and wing-borne flight modes without requiring separate control mechanisms. The dual two-axis side stick system provides consistent control inputs for both flight regimes, making the control system universally applicable across different flight phases
2Ease of operation
If control schemes are changed between flight modes, then each mode can be optimized, but operator workload increases due to mental transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The flight control system is pre-programmed with the appropriate control directives for both rotor-borne and wing-borne flight modes. The system automatically detects the current flight mode and applies the correct control scheme without requiring the operator to mentally switch between different control paradigms, thereby eliminating transition time and mental workload
3Ease of operation
If horizontally-oriented thrust control is used for wing-borne flight, then high-speed flight control is more intuitive, but habit transfer issues occur due to 90-degree offset from vertical axis
Solution Approach 1:
The control system resolves the dimensional conflict by using a vertical two-axis side stick configuration that operates in the vertical dimension for both flight modes. The flight control system interprets vertical stick inputs differently depending on flight mode, mapping them to appropriate control surfaces and rotor adjustments, thereby maintaining consistency while adapting to different flight dynamics
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft includes a first inceptor assembly. The first inceptor assembly has a first base and a first control stick extending away from the first base, the first control stick defining a first longitudinal axis that extends through the first control stick, the first longitudinal axis forming a non-zero angle with a vertical direction. The aircraft includes a second inceptor assembly, the second inceptor assembly having a second base and a second control stick extending away from the second base, the second control stick defining a second longitudinal axis that extends through the second control stick and through the second base, the second longitudinal axis being generally aligned with a vertical direction.