Rotational Throttle Interface for Variable Thrust Vector Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tiltrotor aircraft control systems face challenges in providing consistent haptic feedback and intuitive control interfaces, particularly during transitions between rotary and fixed-wing flight modes, due to incongruence between the thrust vector and power inceptor direction, leading to difficulties in pilot training and situational awareness.
Innovation Solution
A rotational throttle interface that provides direct tactile feedback on the position of the tiltrotor's nacelles, allowing pilots to maintain continuous contact and control inputs through a rotational aircraft throttle interface, which adapts to different flight environments and modes by rotating in conjunction with the nacelles, enabling manipulation of both thrust direction and magnitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard direction and magnitude control interface is used in tiltrotor aircraft, then the control system is simple and familiar to pilots, but the power control interface fails to convey consistent directional feedback during transitions between rotary and fixed-wing flight modes
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle interface is made dynamically adjustable, transitioning between cardinal and intercardinal orientations based on the aircraft's flight mode. This allows the control interface to adapt its directional properties to match the thrust vector orientation, providing consistent haptic feedback during transitions between rotary and fixed-wing flight modes while maintaining pilot familiarity through standardized control movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of the throttle interface from fixed to variable, allowing it to rotate between cardinal (0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) and intercardinal positions. This parameter change enables the throttle to align with the thrust vector in all flight regimes, resolving the inconsistency in directional feedback while preserving the intuitive push-pull control paradigm.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the throttle interface remains fixed in orientation, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different flight modes and thrust vector orientations is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The throttle interface incorporates dynamic orientability, allowing it to rotate and align with the thrust vector across different flight modes. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to handle both rotary and fixed-wing flight configurations effectively, improving flight mode adaptability while maintaining relatively simple mechanical implementation through rotational joints and orientation sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft control input apparatus is configured to accept and provide to the aircraft control inputs from a user regarding the magnitude and direction of the aircraft's thrust vector. The present invention enables a user to continually provide control inputs to an aircraft in which both the magnitude and the direction of thrust vary. A rotational throttle interface is configured to alter its orientation within the aircraft based on the directional component of the aircraft's thrust vector. The rotational throttle interface enables the user to provide continual control inputs to command both the directional component of the thrust as well as the magnitude component. Accordingly the user can provide inputs regarding direction and magnitude throughout the operating envelope of the aircraft's thrust vector while maintaining continuous physical contact with the throttle.