Aircraft Flight Control Wind Compensation for Turbulence Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft flight controls do not effectively account for the impact of wind, particularly turbulence, leading to deviations in flight path, angular velocity, and structural fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for adjusting flight control surfaces using electronic circuitry to estimate wind in three dimensions and apply a compensation term proportional to the wind's derivative, integral, or second derivative to counteract its effects, thereby minimizing wind impact on flight path and structural fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional flight control laws are used without wind compensation, then the control system remains simple and responsive, but wind-induced deviations in flight path and angular velocity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary wind estimation by processing sensor measurements (ground speed, true speed, angles) before the wind affects flight path deviations. The control law is adjusted in advance by adding compensation terms based on estimated wind velocity and its derivatives, preventing deviations rather than correcting them after occurrence
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wind estimation and compensation terms as intermediary elements between the pilot's control inputs and the actual flight control surface movements. The compensation term uw = -inv(CB)CMV acts as a mediator that counteracts wind effects before they propagate to the flight path, separating the raw control input from the final control surface actuation
2Reliability
If digital processing is added to compensate for wind effects, then flight path accuracy improves, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wind compensation is computed continuously alongside the primary control law rather than as a separate post-processing step. The control system continuously estimates wind velocity V and its derivatives {dot over (V)},{umlaut over (V)} and applies compensation terms uw in real-time, ensuring uninterrupted protection against wind disturbances without periodic delays
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical wind compensation mechanisms with digital signal processing. Instead of physical sensors and mechanical linkages, the system uses electronic circuitry to process measurements of ground speed VGND, true speed VTAS, and various angles (roll φ, pitch θ, angle of attack α, sideslip β, slope γ) to compute wind compensation terms, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining effectiveness
3Strength
If wind compensation terms are added to the control law, then structural fatigue from wind impact is reduced, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful effect of wind into useful information by estimating wind velocity V and its derivatives from normal flight measurements. The compensation term uw = -inv(CB)CMV transforms wind-induced disturbances into corrective control actions, turning the harmful wind effect into a source of information that drives protective control responses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the control law parameters by adding compensation terms that depend on wind velocity V and its time derivatives. The control input is transformed from ui to ua = ui + uw, where uw contains proportional, integral, and derivative terms of the wind estimation, effectively changing the control parameters to account for wind effects and reduce structural loading
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling aircraft flight control surfaces implements a method including: obtaining a control law for the flight control surfaces as a function of flight controls of the aircraft; obtaining measurements of ground speed, true speed, roll angle, pitch angle, angle of attack, sideslip angle and slope angle; performing an estimation of the wind in three dimensions using the measurements obtained; performing an adjustment of the control law for the flight control surfaces, to counter the estimated wind effect and to obtain an adjusted control law for the flight control surfaces, by adding, to the control law, a term for wind compensation comprising a term proportional to the derivative of the wind estimation; and controlling the aircraft by applying the adjusted control law. Thus, the impact of the wind on the aircraft is reduced by digital processing and automatic adjustment of the control of the flight control surfaces.