Rotorcraft Load-Balancing Control for Stable Takeoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotorcraft attitude control methods using gyroscope sensors result in delayed control command signals and instability during takeoff, increasing the risk of falling.

Innovation Solution

A rotorcraft equipped with load sensors on its landing rods, which detect and balance loads to stabilize the fuselage before takeoff, allowing for automatic control of rotor outputs to maintain balanced loads and stabilize the aircraft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If attitude control is performed by detecting attitude using a gyroscope sensor, then the rotorcraft can maintain flight stability, but control command signals are delayed and takeoff stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight stabilityVSAvoidcontrol signal delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control device calculates target rotor outputs based on load sensor data before takeoff occurs, establishing preliminary control commands that are executed immediately when takeoff begins, eliminating the delay associated with attitude detection during the critical takeoff phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If conventional attitude detection methods are used, then the system structure remains simple, but takeoff stability deteriorates and falling risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system structureVSAvoidtakeoff stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Load sensors are introduced as intermediary devices that measure forces on the landing gear, providing indirect information about rotor output balance and attitude that enables more reliable takeoff control without requiring complex direct attitude measurement systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3702274B1Rotorcraft and method of controlling rotorcraft
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 SUBARU CORP
  • EP3702274B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3702274B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3702274B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes rotors (3), a fuselage (2), at least three rods (4), at least one load sensor (5) and a control device (6). The rotors (3) obtain lift. The fuselage (2) is coupled to the rotors (3). The at least three rods (4) support the fuselage (2). The at least one load sensor (5) detects loads (F1, F2, F3, F4) applied on the at least three rods (4). The control device (6) automatically controls the rotors (3) so that measured values of the loads (F1, F2, F3, F4) detected by the at least one load sensor (5) are brought to targeted values of the loads (F1, F2, F3, F4).