Electronic Unit for Aircraft Tactile Cueing Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pilots often lose tactile feedback due to servo-assistance, leading to a deprivation of 'feel' in control systems, and existing solutions either require significant system changes or rely on mechanical devices that may fail in critical situations.
Innovation Solution
An Electronic Unit for a tactile cueing apparatus that monitors communication signals from vehicle management systems, switching to a Reversionary Active Mode to maintain augmented feel even if primary signals fail, ensuring continuous operation and safety by utilizing segregated channels and default settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If servo-assistance is introduced to reduce control forces, then ease of operation is improved, but tactile feedback is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary tactile cueing apparatus that sits between the pilot and the control system. This apparatus includes force generators and control elements that provide tactile feedback without interfering with the servo-assistance system's primary function of reducing control forces. The intermediary device generates artificial tactile cues through controlled forces applied to the control element.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into separate functional components: the servo-assistance system for force reduction and the tactile cueing apparatus for feedback provision. The tactile cueing apparatus further segments control elements into primary control elements and secondary control elements, allowing independent operation and feedback generation.
2Reliability
If mechanical devices are used to provide tactile feedback, then tactile feedback is restored, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical tactile feedback devices with an electronically controlled system. The tactile cueing apparatus uses electronic control units, force generators, and sensors to create tactile feedback, eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages and spring-damper systems while maintaining or improving feedback quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The tactile cueing apparatus is designed to work with existing servo-assistance systems without requiring complete system replacement. It can be retrofitted to aircraft with various control systems, providing universal applicability. The system performs multiple functions including force generation, feedback provision, and fault monitoring through a single integrated apparatus.
3Reliability
If primary channel fails, then communication reliability deteriorates, but system redundancy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring both primary and secondary channels with identical functionality. The secondary channel is prepared in advance as a backup, with all necessary control elements and force generators ready to take over immediately if the primary channel fails. This preliminary preparation ensures seamless failover without loss of tactile feedback capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between primary and secondary channels based on detected faults. When a fault is detected in the primary channel, the system changes the active channel parameter and continues operation using the secondary channel, maintaining all functional parameters including tactile feedback quality.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an Electronic Unit (1), EU, for a tactile cueing apparatus for a vehicle. The tactile cueing apparatus augments feel for an operator of the vehicle. The EU comprises a first channel (307A, 407A). The first channel (307A, 407A) is configured to monitor communication for determining a control mode of the first channel (307A, 407A). The control mode comprises a Reversionary Active Mode, the Reversionary Active Mode providing a control characteristic for limited augmented feel capability to the operator of the vehicle; and an Active Mode, wherein the Active Mode providing a control characteristic for fully augmented feel capability to the operator of the vehicle.