Flight Control Haptic Feedback for Pilot-Induced Oscillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft pilots lack direct feedback on current flight commands, leading to potential overcontrol and unintended oscillations due to significant delays between command input and aircraft response, especially in large aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A flight control system with haptic feedback that generates vibrations in the user input apparatus when a predetermined attitude threshold is reached, providing real-time feedback to the pilot and preventing overcontrol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If manual flight control is used without feedback, then the flight control system is simple, but the pilot cannot perceive the current commanded attitude in real-time leading to overcontrol
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a haptic feedback device provides tactile information to the pilot about the current commanded attitude. The feedback controller compares the commanded attitude with the actual attitude and generates haptic feedback signals that inform the pilot of the aircraft's response to control inputs, resolving the information loss without significantly complicating the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic feedback device acts as an intermediary between the flight control system and the pilot. It translates complex flight control data into intuitive tactile sensations that the pilot can perceive, providing real-time feedback about commanded attitude while keeping the interface simple and natural for the pilot.
2Reliability
If haptic feedback is provided continuously, then the pilot receives real-time feedback, but the haptic feedback may interfere with pilot control inputs
Solution Approach 1:
The haptic feedback is provided periodically or event-driven rather than continuously. The feedback controller generates haptic feedback signals based on specific conditions, such as when the commanded attitude changes or when the aircraft approaches certain attitude thresholds, providing necessary feedback without creating constant interference with pilot inputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides partial haptic feedback by selectively activating feedback only when relevant information needs to be conveyed to the pilot. The feedback controller determines when haptic feedback is necessary based on the comparison between commanded and actual attitudes, providing just enough feedback to maintain control stability without excessive interference.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces pilot-induced oscillations by providing intuitive, real-time feedback, allowing pilots to maintain stable control of the aircraft without excessive manual corrections.
Implementation Method 1
The haptic feedback device is a vibration-inducing device. Additionally, the haptic feedback motion comprises a vibration
Data Source
AI summary
A flight control system includes a user input apparatus configured to receive a flight change input from a user via a manual manipulation of a position of the user input apparatus. A sensor is coupled to the user input apparatus and configured to determine a change in the position of the user input apparatus. The sensor is also configured to generate position data. A feedback controller is configured to selectively receive the position data and further configured to generate a feedback-control signal when a commanded attitude, corresponding to the change in the position of the user input apparatus is equal to a predetermined threshold. A haptic feedback device is coupled to the user input apparatus and configured to receive the feedback-control signal and, in response to receiving the feedback-control signal, generate haptic feedback motion of the user input apparatus.