eVTOL Flight Control Command Mixing for Multi-Actuator Maneuvering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft systems face inefficiencies due to the complex determination of multiple aircraft parameters such as position and speed, especially in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft which have increased degrees of freedom.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for producing a control signal for an eVTOL aircraft, involving a flight controller that generates a command mix based on a requested aircraft force, using an actuator model with performance parameters, and producing a control signal to direct actuators and flight components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of actuators and flight components is increased to provide more degrees of freedom for eVTOL aircraft, then the aircraft's maneuverability and functionality are improved, but the complexity of determining aircraft parameters and generating control commands increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular components: an actuator model generator that creates individual actuator models, a command mix generator that processes these models, and a control signal generator that produces final commands. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and optimized independently while managing the overall complexity of controlling multiple actuators and flight components.
2Productivity
If traditional aircraft control methods are used, then the control system is simpler, but the determination of aircraft parameters such as position and speed becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by generating actuator models that incorporate performance parameters before actual flight operations. These pre-computed models enable faster and more efficient determination of aircraft parameters during flight, as the computationally intensive modeling work has already been completed in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The command mix generator uses feedback from the actuator models and performance parameters to continuously optimize control commands. By monitoring the actual performance of actuators and comparing it with the modeled performance, the system can adjust control strategies to improve parameter determination efficiency while adapting to real-world variations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for producing a control signal of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft includes a flight controller configured to obtain a requested aircraft force, generate an optimal command mix, wherein the optimal command mix includes a plurality of commands to a plurality of actuators as a function of the requested aircraft force, wherein generating further comprises receiving an ideal actuator model includes at least a performance parameter, producing a model datum as a function of the ideal actuator model, and generating the optimal command mix as a function of the request aircraft force and the model datum, and produce a control signal as a function of the optimal command mix.