Flight Envelope Ceiling Adjustment for Airspeed-Responsive Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flight envelope protection mechanisms for aircraft do not adequately account for changes in airspeed, leading to delayed activation of safety mechanisms and reduced maneuverability, as they do not dynamically adjust the operational flight envelope based on airspeed changes during flight.
Innovation Solution
A computer system in the aircraft dynamically adjusts the operational flight envelope by receiving airspeed data from sensors, determining changes in airspeed, and adjusting the current ceiling to maintain desired safety margins and maneuverability, thereby adjusting settings for aircraft systems such as stick shaker and automatic thrust triggers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the initial ceiling of the operational flight envelope is set below the maximum ceiling to provide early warning, then safety margin is improved, but the aircraft's maneuverability and speed are reduced due to premature activation of safety mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the operational flight envelope ceiling adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically modifies the ceiling based on detected airspeed changes, allowing the safety threshold to adapt to current flight conditions. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the ceiling to be conservative when needed for safety but permissive when airspeed conditions allow for greater maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of the flight envelope ceiling based on airspeed measurements. When airspeed decreases below a threshold, the ceiling is adjusted to trigger safety mechanisms earlier; when airspeed is adequate, the ceiling allows more aggressive maneuvers. This parameter adaptation directly addresses the contradiction between safety margin and speed by making the safety threshold conditional on current performance.
2Reliability
If the initial ceiling is set to provide desired safety margin, then reliability is improved, but the activation of safety mechanisms is delayed when airspeed changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring airspeed and using this information to adjust the operational flight envelope ceiling. The feedback loop detects airspeed changes and triggers corresponding adjustments to the safety threshold, ensuring that safety mechanisms activate at appropriate moments rather than being delayed by a fixed, overly conservative initial ceiling setting.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the ceiling dynamic and responsive to real-time airspeed conditions, the system eliminates the delay inherent in static ceiling settings. The ceiling adapts its position based on current flight state, allowing the system to maintain safety margins while responding timely to actual flight conditions rather than relying on predetermined conservative thresholds.
3Device complexity
If a fixed initial ceiling is used for the operational flight envelope, then device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot adapt to changing flight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by automatically adjusting the operational flight envelope ceiling based on its own sensor measurements of airspeed. Rather than requiring external intervention or complex pilot input, the system autonomously monitors its flight state and modifies its safety thresholds accordingly, achieving adaptability through self-monitoring and self-adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight envelope management system performs multiple functions: it monitors airspeed, determines changes in airspeed, and adjusts the operational ceiling based on those changes. This multi-functionality allows a single system to handle both surveillance and control adaptation, achieving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and system for adjusting an operational flight envelope for an aircraft. An airspeed of the aircraft is received from a sensor system in the aircraft. An amount of change in the airspeed of the aircraft is determined. A current ceiling of the operational flight envelope for the aircraft is adjusted based on the amount of change in the airspeed of the aircraft.