Follower Aircraft Longitudinal Control for Smooth Formation Flight
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Formation flying between lead and follower aircraft results in fluctuations in speed setpoints, leading to passenger discomfort due to unwanted accelerations and decelerations.
Innovation Solution
A method for managing the longitudinal position of a follower aircraft using predefined thresholds and distinct control laws to stabilize speed, reducing fluctuations by maintaining smooth transitions between control modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If speed setpoint calculation with longitudinal position and speed feedback is used to manage follower aircraft position, then longitudinal position control accuracy is improved, but speed setpoint fluctuations increase causing passenger discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The control method dynamically adapts the speed setpoint calculation based on the longitudinal distance between follower and leader aircraft. When distance is large, full feedback control is applied for precise positioning. When distance decreases below a threshold, the control gain is reduced or disabled to prevent speed fluctuations, thus adapting the control strategy to current flight conditions and eliminating passenger discomfort while maintaining position accuracy when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameters (feedback gains) based on the longitudinal position difference between follower and leader aircraft. By monitoring the distance parameter and adjusting the control law accordingly, the system transitions between different control modes to balance position control accuracy with speed stability, preventing the harmful speed variations that cause passenger discomfort
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Method for managing the longitudinal position of at least one follower aircraft following a lead aircraft in a formation flight, the method being characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps: (a) obtaining a position (XI) of the lead aircraft, an actual longitudinal position Xr of the follower aircraft, a speed SI of the lead aircraft and a speed Sf of the follower aircraft; (b) determining a target longitudinal position Xt of the follower aircraft relative to the longitudinal position of the lead aircraft;