Simulated Aircraft Control via Desired Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flight simulators require users to manage multiple input devices to align the aircraft with a desired direction, making it challenging and time-consuming, especially for novices.
Innovation Solution
A control system that uses one or more simulated input devices, such as a keyboard and mouse, to control a simulated aircraft by determining its position and orientation based on the desired direction of flight, allowing users to align the aircraft without direct control over ailerons, elevator, and rudder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users directly control ailerons, elevator and rudder to align the aircraft with desired direction, then the aircraft can be precisely controlled, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming requiring multiple input devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex aircraft control dynamics (aileron, elevator, rudder control) from the user's direct control loop. Instead of requiring users to manually manipulate multiple control surfaces, the system automatically handles the alignment computation and control surface actuation based on a simplified desired direction input, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining precise aircraft alignment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational layer between the user's simple directional input and the aircraft's complex control surfaces. This intermediary system automatically computes the appropriate control surface deflections needed to align the aircraft with the desired direction, acting as a mediator that translates high-level intent into low-level control actions without requiring the user to understand or directly control the complex aerodynamic mechanisms
2Measurement precision
If users learn to align aircraft with desired direction through multiple input devices, then precise control is achieved, but the learning time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-aligning control system where the aircraft automatically adjusts its orientation to match the desired direction without requiring the user to manually coordinate multiple control inputs. The system performs the alignment computation and control surface adjustment autonomously based on the user's simple directional command, thereby achieving precise alignment while eliminating the need for users to invest significant time learning complex multi-device coordination
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system requires control of multiple input devices for aircraft alignment, then the control capability is comprehensive, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex coordination of multiple input devices from the user's operational task. Instead of requiring users to simultaneously manage multiple control inputs, the system automatically synthesizes the appropriate control actions from a single desired direction input, thereby maintaining comprehensive control capability while dramatically simplifying the operational interface
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple control functions (aileron control, elevator control, rudder control) into a single unified control interface. By combining these separate control dimensions into one desired direction input, the system maintains the comprehensive adaptability of multi-parameter control while presenting a simplified operational interface that requires only a single intuitive input device
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft control system for a user of a simulated aircraft. The system includes input devices for controlling the simulated aircraft, a video display having three-dimensional graphics, modeling software for determining position and orientation information based on desired direction of flight obtained through the input devices. User controls desired direction of flight through the input devices, thus controlling aircraft. The aircraft control system may be embodied as a flight game.