eVTOL Flight Control for Stable Attitude Under Motor Abnormality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flight control systems for electric flight vehicles fail to maintain stability and safety when a motor abnormality occurs, potentially leading to unsafe flight conditions.

Innovation Solution

A flight control device and method that determines whether an electric flight vehicle can maintain a stable attitude with or without an abnormal motor, and adjusts the output of normal motors to stabilize the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the abnormal motor continues driving, then the thrust is maintained, but the flight vehicle stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethrustVSAvoidflight vehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the operating state of the abnormal motor based on real-time stability assessment. The controller can switch between continuing to drive the abnormal motor, reducing its output, or stopping it, depending on whether the flight vehicle can maintain stable attitude under each condition. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the motor's operational state flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where the controller continuously monitors flight vehicle stability and adjusts the abnormal motor's driving state accordingly. The maintaining determination unit assesses whether stable attitude can be maintained, and the controller uses this information to adjust motor operation. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to respond to changing conditions and resolve the stability-thrust contradiction in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If the abnormal motor stops driving, then the flight vehicle stability improves, but the total thrust decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight vehicle stabilityVSAvoidtotal thrust
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines whether to stop or continue driving the abnormal motor based on real-time stability assessment. Rather than automatically stopping the motor upon detecting abnormality, the controller evaluates whether the flight vehicle can maintain stable attitude with the abnormal motor running. This dynamic decision-making process resolves the contradiction by adapting the motor's operational state to current flight conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the abnormal motor based on stability requirements. The controller can adjust the motor's driving state between three modes: continuing to drive at normal power, reducing output power, or stopping completely. By changing these operational parameters dynamically, the system maintains thrust when possible while ensuring stability when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If the output of normal motors is increased to compensate, then the total thrust is maintained, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal thrustVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial compensation by normal motors only when necessary and when stability can be maintained. Rather than always increasing normal motor output to compensate for abnormal motor reduction, the controller assesses whether the flight vehicle can maintain stable attitude with the abnormal motor contributing thrust. This partial action approach avoids excessive energy consumption while maintaining sufficient total thrust.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the output parameters of normal motors based on the operational state of the abnormal motor and stability requirements. The controller adjusts normal motor power levels in response to changes in abnormal motor performance, optimizing the balance between maintaining total thrust and minimizing energy consumption. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by making compensation conditional rather than constant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4534419B1Flight control device, flight control program, and flight control method
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 DENSO CORP
  • EP4534419B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4534419B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4534419B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A flight control device performs a flight control process for causing an eVTOL to fly. In a step (S104 to S106) of the flight control process, the flight control device determines whether the eVTOL is capable of maintaining a stable attitude. In the step (S104), it is determined whether the eVTOL is capable of maintaining the stable attitude even if driving of an abnormal motor is stopped. In the step (S105, S106), it is determined whether the eVTOL is capable of maintaining the stable attitude even if the the abnormal motor continues driving. When it is determined that the eVTOL is capable of maintaining the stable attitude, the flight control device (40) performs, in steps S107 to S110, output adjustment of at least one of a normal motor and the abnormal motor to maintain the eVTOL at the stable attitude.