Supplemental Attitude Control for Ultralight Aircraft Drift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ultralight aircraft are susceptible to external forces causing drift due to wind and sensor noise, which existing technologies have not effectively addressed.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates a supplemental attitude by selecting a position-based attitude when the input device is disengaged and a velocity-based attitude when engaged, combining these with the input attitude to control the aircraft and correct for drift perpendicular to the direction of motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If ultralight aircraft use lightweight construction, then weight is reduced and maneuverability is improved, but susceptibility to external forces like wind increases causing drift

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaircraft weightVSAvoiddrift resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors aircraft position and velocity through sensors, compares actual position with desired position, and automatically generates corrective attitude commands to counteract drift. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows lightweight aircraft to maintain stability despite high susceptibility to external forces like wind

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The aircraft system automatically detects and corrects its own drift without external intervention. The supplemental attitude system self-regulates by continuously adjusting control inputs based on real-time position and velocity data, enabling the lightweight aircraft to compensate for its inherent vulnerability to wind and maintain reliable operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If sensor data is used for attitude control, then responsiveness to pilot input is improved, but sensor noise causes drift and reduces accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponsiveness to inputVSAvoidposition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback control to continuously monitor the difference between desired and actual position, filtering out sensor noise by comparing measurements over time and only responding to genuine position changes. This allows responsive control while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its response based on the operational state. When the aircraft is moving, it responds to velocity changes; when hovering, it focuses on position maintenance. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to distinguish between intentional pilot inputs and sensor noise, improving both responsiveness and precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If position-based supplemental attitude is used when input device is disengaged, then drift correction is improved, but responsiveness to pilot intent is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrift correctionVSAvoidpilot responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between position-based and velocity-based supplemental attitudes depending on the input device state. When disengaged, it uses position-based control for drift correction; when engaged, it transitions to velocity-based control for responsive maneuvering. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by adapting to operational context

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If velocity-based supplemental attitude is used when input device is engaged, then responsiveness to pilot input is improved, but drift correction capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepilot responsivenessVSAvoiddrift correction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the type of supplemental attitude based on whether the input device is engaged or disengaged. When engaged, velocity-based supplemental attitude provides responsive pilot control; when disengaged, position-based supplemental attitude takes over for drift correction. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for the current operational mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The supplemental attitude system continuously operates in the background, seamlessly transitioning between position-based and velocity-based modes. This ensures that drift correction is always active when needed, while maintaining continuous responsiveness to pilot inputs, creating an uninterrupted cycle of useful control action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10845824B2Supplemental attitude with engaged and disengaged input device modes

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 KITTY HAWK CORP

AI summary

An input attitude associated with an input device of an aircraft is received. A supplemental attitude is generated, including by selecting a position-based supplemental attitude to be the supplemental attitude in the event the input device is in a disengaged state and selecting a velocity-based supplemental attitude to be the supplemental attitude in the event the input device is in an engaged state. The input attitude and the supplemental attitude are combined in order to obtain a combined attitude. The aircraft is controlled using the combined attitude.