Shared Side-Stick Control for Flight and Nose-Wheel Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft control systems are complex and costly due to multiple individual input controls for pitch, roll, and yaw, which are not optimized for different operational modes, such as flight and ground operations.
Innovation Solution
A processing system that integrates control inputs for aircraft pitch, roll, and yaw, dynamically adjusting the relationship between input controls and output devices based on aircraft status, allowing shared control inputs and varying resistance for tactile feedback, thereby reducing the number of necessary input controls and enhancing user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple individual input controls are used for pitch, roll, and yaw, then each control aspect can be precisely controlled, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling a single control input (side-stick) to perform multiple control functions across different operational modes. The side-stick controls pitch and roll during flight, and nose-wheel steering during ground operations, replacing multiple dedicated controls with one universal control device that adapts its function based on aircraft status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the control system's functionality changeable based on operational mode. The processing system dynamically reconfigures which outputs are controlled by the side-stick depending on whether the aircraft is in flight or on ground mode, allowing the same physical control to have different control ratios and functions at different times.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual input controls are used for pitch, roll, and yaw, then each control aspect can be independently controlled, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces cost by replacing multiple individual control devices with a single universal side-stick controller. This multi-functional approach maintains independent control capability through software-based configuration in the processing system, which can independently adjust control ratios for different outputs based on operational mode without requiring separate physical controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical control systems with a processing system that uses software logic to manage control functions. The processing system receives input from the side-stick and dynamically determines which outputs to control based on aircraft status, replacing the need for multiple mechanical control linkages and reducing overall system cost.
3Device complexity
If control inputs are shared across different operational modes, then the number of controls is reduced, but the transitions between modes must be intuitively managed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides tactile feedback through variable resistance in the side-stick control to indicate current operational mode and control status. The resistance characteristics change based on whether the aircraft is in flight or ground mode, giving the operator intuitive tactile information about which control functions are active without requiring visual confirmation or complex mode selection procedures.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aircraft control systems to enable shared input controls. A single inceptor may provide outputs to control both land-based aircraft controls and air-based aircraft controls to reduce the number of inceptors required. In an example a side-stick provides control of both pitch and aircraft nose-wheel steering. Active inceptor technology may be utilised to provide feedback to the operator on the control system state.