Terrain Adaptive Helicopter Flight Control System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft flight control systems are ineffective in preventing controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) incidents, especially in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions or at night, as they only cue pilots to ground proximity without automatically adjusting control modes based on terrain or obstacle proximity.
Innovation Solution
A helicopter flight control system that includes sensors to detect proximity to terrain and obstacles, and a flight computer to automatically change the control mode from attitude command velocity hold (ACVH) to translational rate command (TRC) when obstacles are detected within a predefined distance, limiting trim velocity and transitioning to position hold mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic terrain adaptive flight control is implemented, then safety against CFIT incidents is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and flight computer processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of terrain for obstacles in the flight path and pre-determines control mode changes before CFIT incidents can occur. The flight computer continuously monitors terrain proximity and prepares appropriate control mode transitions in advance, ensuring safety actions are taken proactively rather than reactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight computer acts as an intermediary between the pilot and the flight control system, automatically interpreting terrain sensor data and mediating control mode transitions. This intermediary layer processes complex terrain avoidance logic and translates it into appropriate control mode changes, reducing the burden on the pilot while enhancing safety.
2Ease of operation
If control mode automatically changes based on terrain proximity, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information occurs as the system makes decisions without pilot awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring terrain proximity and automatically adjusting control modes based on real-time sensor data. The flight computer provides feedback to the pilot through the flight control system, ensuring that control mode changes are responsive to current flight conditions while maintaining pilot awareness of the automated terrain avoidance functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A helicopter is provided and includes an air frame formed to accommodate a pilot, flight control elements disposed on the airframe to generate lift and thrust in accordance with control commands issued by the pilot and a current control mode, a sensor disposed on the airframe to sense helicopter proximity to terrain and obstacles and a flight computer configured to change the current control mode based on sensed helicopter proximity to the terrain and the obstacles.