Ground Vehicle Controller for Remote Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pilots face difficulty in controlling remote control aircraft due to the need for complex coordination of throttle, yaw, pitch, and roll controls, which requires more skill and awareness of the aircraft's orientation compared to controlling remote control ground vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held radio transmit controller with a throttle trigger and steering knob, similar to a ground vehicle controller, is used in conjunction with a method that includes altitude and steering control processes to allow pilots to control remote control aircraft with ground vehicle-like simplicity, using sensor fusion and flight control software to maintain altitude and execute coordinated turns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional two-stick aircraft controller is used, then precise control of aircraft is achieved, but control complexity and skill requirement increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by replicating the familiar ground vehicle controller interface (steering wheel and throttle) on the aircraft controller. This allows pilots to transfer their existing ground vehicle control skills directly to aircraft operation, eliminating the need to learn complex two-stick coordination while maintaining intuitive and precise control through the copied interface paradigm
2Ease of operation
If ground vehicle-like control interface is used, then ease of operation improves, but control precision and coordination capability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical coordination requirement of traditional two-stick control with an automated mixing system. The flight control computer automatically calculates and coordinates the complex relationships between steering wheel input, throttle position, and aircraft attitude (pitch, roll, yaw), replacing the need for manual mechanical coordination while preserving the simplicity of the ground vehicle-like interface
3Measurement precision
If complex coordination of throttle, yaw, pitch and roll is required, then aircraft control precision is maintained, but pilot skill requirement and awareness burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions (steering, throttle, pitch, roll, yaw coordination) into a single integrated ground vehicle-like controller interface. The flight control computer combines these functions through automated mixing algorithms, allowing the pilot to operate with simple steering wheel and throttle inputs while the system handles the complex coordination of all aircraft control surfaces simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held radio transmit controller for remotely controlling an aircraft, and a method for controlling a remote control aircraft offering ground vehicle-like control.