eVTOL Torque Mixing with Attitude Priority Under Torque Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft technologies face challenges in flight control, particularly in energy efficiency and cost savings, which complicates development for manned and unmanned flights.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for flight control in electric aircraft that includes a flight controller and a mixer, which provide an initial vehicle torque signal, adjust it based on vehicle torque limits and prioritization data, and generate output torque commands to ensure safe and efficient flight operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If torque allocation is optimized for energy efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but flight control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight control system segments torque allocation into hierarchical levels: high-level flight controller generates initial torque signals, mixer receives and processes these signals with prioritization data, and individual propulsors execute specific torque commands. This segmentation allows complex energy optimization to be distributed across multiple specialized components rather than centralized in one complex controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring prioritization data that ranks different attitude commands (pitch, roll, yaw) in advance. When torque limits are encountered, the mixer uses these pre-established priorities to automatically determine which commands to maintain and which to reduce, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision-making algorithms.
2Productivity
If multiple attitude commands are prioritized differently, then torque allocation efficiency is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer applies local quality by treating different attitude commands (pitch, roll, yaw) with different priority levels specific to each command type. Each attitude command receives customized prioritization based on its importance to safe flight operations, allowing optimized torque allocation tailored to local requirements of each control axis rather than uniform treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by dynamically adjusting torque commands based on prioritization data and current flight conditions. The mixer modifies attitude commands in real-time by applying weight factors and priority multipliers to transform initial torque signals into optimized output commands, adapting torque distribution without changing the fundamental control architecture.
3Reliability
If torque limits are enforced strictly, then flight safety is improved, but maneuverability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer implements partial action by applying torque limits selectively rather than uniformly to all commands. When a torque limit is approached, the system partially reduces only the lower-priority attitude commands while maintaining full torque for high-priority commands, achieving safety compliance without completely sacrificing maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system becomes dynamic by continuously monitoring torque limits and adjusting command priorities in real-time based on flight conditions. The mixer can dynamically shift priority levels and torque distribution as the aircraft transitions between different flight phases, allowing strict limit enforcement during critical maneuvers while permitting greater flexibility during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for flight control in electric aircraft includes a flight controller configured to provide an initial vehicle torque signal including a plurality of attitude commands. The system includes a mixer configured to receive the initial vehicle torque signal and a vehicle torque limit, receive prioritization data including a prioritization datum corresponding to each of the plurality of attitude command, determine a plurality of modified attitude commands as a function of the vehicle torque limit, the attitude commands, and the prioritization data, generate, as a function of modified attitude commands, an output torque command including the initial vehicle torque signal adjusted as a function of the vehicle torque limit, generate, as a function of the output torque command, a remaining vehicle torque. The system includes a display, wherein the display is configured to present, to a user, the remaining vehicle torque and the output torque command.