Rotorcraft Collective Grip Layout for In-Flight Auxiliary Control Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing control systems for rotorcrafts are cumbersome, requiring pilots to use their thumbs to operate controls on the collective lever, limiting access to auxiliary controls during flight due to the need to maintain a grip on the cyclic and collective lever, which restricts the ability to perform multiple adjustments simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A control system designed to be attached to the collective lever with a contoured body and horn portion, allowing a human hand to grasp in an open spherical grip, enabling fingers and thumb to operate controls without removing the hand from the collective lever, allowing for easier manipulation of the collective pitch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control system is attached to the collective lever with traditional cylindrical grip, then the pilot can maintain grip on the collective lever, but the pilot cannot easily operate auxiliary controls without removing the hand
Solution Approach 1:
The control system employs a spherical grip structure instead of a traditional cylindrical grip. The spherical shape allows the pilot's hand to rest on the sphere with fingers naturally positioned to access multiple controls mounted on the spherical surface, enabling operation of auxiliary controls without removing the hand from the collective lever.
2Productivity
If the pilot uses thumb to operate controls on the collective lever, then the pilot can control the collective pitch, but the pilot cannot perform multiple adjustments simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The control system transitions from one-dimensional thumb operation on a cylindrical grip to three-dimensional finger access on a spherical surface. Multiple controls are mounted on the spherical surface at different positions, allowing the pilot to access and operate multiple controls simultaneously using different fingers, significantly increasing the speed and capability of performing multiple adjustments.
3Ease of operation
If the control system requires hand removal to operate auxiliary controls, then the control system structure can be simple, but the pilot cannot easily manage flight controls during flight
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical grip structure serves multiple functions: it provides a comfortable resting position for the pilot's hand, mounts multiple auxiliary controls on its surface, and maintains the collective lever control function. This multi-functional design allows the pilot to operate both collective pitch and auxiliary controls simultaneously without removing the hand, addressing the need for integrated control access during flight.
Data Source
AI summary
The control system for attachment to a collective lever in a rotorcraft which comprises a body with an extended horn portion which is generally contoured to provide for a place to rest the palm and grip the collective lever at the end in the form of an open spherical grip as opposed to the more traditional cylindrical grip used to grasp the throttle and/or collective lever directly. The control system generally includes a plurality of controls which can be manipulated by any or all of the four fingers of the hand and the thumb without need to substantially move the palm. The collective lever can also be moved without having to remove the hand from the control system or the fingers or thumb from the controls.