Aircraft Flight Control Switching Without Error Propagation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transitioning between different flight control laws in aircraft with multiple drive units often result in error propagation due to continuous synchronization, which can lead to undesirable flight behavior and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A method that initializes the starting values and integrators of the new flight control unit using current state values and control commands from the active unit, followed by a difference equalization process with decreasing weighting over time, allowing for a smooth transition without continuous synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If continuous synchronization between flight control units is implemented, then smooth transition between control implementations is achieved, but error propagation occurs leading to unsafe flight behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful continuous synchronization mechanism from the system. Instead of continuously synchronizing between flight control units, the invention initializes the new active flight control unit independently using current state values and control commands at the moment of switching, thereby removing the error propagation pathway while maintaining transition smoothness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-initializing the new active flight control unit with current state values and control commands before the switching occurs. This preliminary setup ensures the new unit starts from a known good state, preventing error propagation while enabling smooth transition
2Reliability
If multiple flight control laws are kept ready for safety, then system reliability increases, but transition complexity between control implementations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by having each flight control unit independently initialize itself with current state values and control commands when switching occurs. Each unit serves itself without requiring complex coordination or synchronization with other units, thereby maintaining safety through multiple ready units while simplifying the transition process
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an aircraft having multiple drive units including: a) providing a first flight control unit (CTRL-1), which activates the drive units according to a first control implementation when CTRL-1 is active; b) providing a second flight control unit (CTRL-2), which activates the drive units according to a second control implementation when CTRL-2 is active; c) continuously monitoring a function of the currently active flight control unit (CTRL-1); d) changing the active flight control unit from the currently active flight control unit (CTRL-1) to the newly active flight control unit (CTRL-2) in dependence on a result of the monitoring in step c); in which the change in step d) for the newly active flight control unit (CTRL-2) includes: d1) initializing starting values of a movement equation of the aircraft implemented in CTRL-2 using currently known state values (x) of the aircraft; d2) initializing integrators of CTRL-2 using control commands for the drive units from CTRL-1; d3) difference equalization between control commands (u1) for the drive units from CTRL-2 and control commands (u2) for the drive units from CTRL-2.