Rotorcraft Pilot Control Trim Monitoring With FCC Retrim Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotorcraft systems face challenges in detecting failures of automated trim drive systems, which can lead to unpredictable flight characteristics and increased pilot workload, as existing technologies lack effective methods for monitoring and responding to trim system malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a flight control computer (FCC) that receives pilot control position data, generates flight control commands, and monitors the trim system's state, executing a retrim process and alerting the pilot when a failure is detected, allowing for manual control and termination of automated flight control processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automated trim drive systems are implemented to reduce pilot workload, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to undetected failures leading to unpredictable flight characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a monitoring system that continuously compares the actual position of the pilot control with the target position commanded by the flight control computer. This feedback mechanism detects when the trim system fails to achieve the commanded position, providing real-time information about trim system status to enable timely pilot intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring system between the automated trim drive and the pilot control that acts as a safety layer. This intermediary detects discrepancies between commanded and actual positions without interfering with normal automated operation, allowing the system to maintain ease of operation while improving reliability through failure detection.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring of trim system position is implemented, then reliability is improved through failure detection, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system leverages existing sensors and flight control computer resources to perform multiple functions: normal flight control, trim command generation, and failure detection. By making these existing components multi-functional, the system achieves reliable trim monitoring without adding dedicated complex hardware specifically for monitoring purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight control computer uses its own existing sensors and processing capabilities to monitor the trim system status. The system essentially monitors itself by comparing data already being collected for flight control purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated monitoring hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotorcraft according to the invention comprises a pilot control (413) having a sensor (215) that generates pilot control position data, a flight control that controls a flight characteristic of the rotorcraft, a trim system connected to the pilot control and configured to move the pilot control, and a flight control computer (FCC) (205) configured to receive the pilot control position data from the sensor. The FCC executes a first flight control process and generates, according to the first flight control commands, a trim signal indicating a target position for the pilot control and to send the trim signal to the trim system. The trim system attempts to move the pilot control to the target position to reflect a position of the flight control, and to monitor a working state of the trim system and execute a retrim process in response to determining that the trim system has failed.