Aircraft Taxiing Speed Control via Neutral-Return Acceleration Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft taxiing requires significant pilot workload due to the need to control speed on potentially winding and obstacle-filled taxiways, with existing systems leading to passenger discomfort from excessive acceleration and deceleration, and inefficiencies in engine thrust and response dynamics.
Innovation Solution
A device with a control member and central controller that allows pilots to set acceleration or deceleration commands, automatically returning to neutral, which controls propulsion engines and braking members to maintain desired speed, reducing pilot workload and enhancing passenger comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the pilot uses traditional throttle and brake controls to manage taxiing speed, then the aircraft can be controlled, but the pilot workload increases and passenger comfort deteriorates due to excessive acceleration and deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system between the pilot and the aircraft's propulsion/braking systems. This intermediary automatically manages throttle and brake commands based on pilot input, smoothing out acceleration and deceleration profiles to reduce passenger discomfort while lowering pilot workload.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor aircraft speed, acceleration rates, and pilot inputs. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of throttle and brake commands to maintain comfortable acceleration profiles while responding to pilot intent, thereby reducing both workload and passenger discomfort.
2Power
If the aircraft engines are sized for flight thrust, then sufficient power is available for all operations, but the response dynamics become too fast and thrust too high for comfortable taxiing control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic control to the engine thrust during taxiing operations. The system automatically modulates thrust levels and response characteristics based on the taxiing phase, converting the engines' inherently fast response into a smoothly controllable system that maintains power availability while ensuring comfortable acceleration for passengers.
3Productivity
If the pilot accelerates quickly to reach target speed, then taxiing time is reduced, but passenger comfort deteriorates due to excessive acceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by pre-calculating and pre-applying counteracting forces to prevent excessive acceleration. The control system anticipates pilot acceleration commands and automatically applies braking or throttling adjustments in advance to maintain comfortable acceleration profiles while still achieving target speeds efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is for assisting the piloting in acceleration of an aircraft in taking in order to control its speed. The comprises a control member, adapted to be actuated by a pilot from a neutral position to define a taxiing piloting command for controlling the speed of the aircraft and a central controller, adapted to operate pilot at least one engine of the aircraft to apply the taxiing command defined by the pilot. The taxiing piloting command is an acceleration or deceleration command of the aircraft during taxiing.