Tilt Rotor Control Using Weighted Compensation for Uniform Thrust

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Solution Overview

Problem

In aircraft with multiple tilt rotors, achieving uniform thrust is challenging due to individual motor outputs, and existing electric speed control methods risk motor overload during vertical climbs or high-speed flights.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that includes a thrust command generator, rotation speed compensator, compensation weight generator, collective pitch angle command generator, and motor controller to adjust and synchronize the output of each tilt rotor, using weighted averages and compensation values to maintain consistent thrust and prevent motor overload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If individual motors are used to power tilt rotors, then the aircraft can achieve versatile flight modes, but uniform thrust generation becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight mode versatilityVSAvoidthrust uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies individualized compensation to each motor based on its specific characteristics. The rotation speed compensator generates motor-specific compensation values, and the compensation weight generator creates individualized weight values for each motor according to flight speed, allowing each motor to be optimized locally while maintaining overall system versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts control parameters (ESC commands and collective pitch angles) based on motor rotation speeds and flight conditions. By changing these parameters in real-time according to each motor's performance characteristics and current flight speed, the system achieves both versatility and thrust uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If electric speed control is used to maintain constant motor rotation speed, then thrust consistency is improved, but motor overload risk increases during vertical climbs or high-speed flight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation speed consistencyVSAvoidmotor overload protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the balance between ESC command and collective pitch angle based on flight speed. The compensation weight generator creates speed-dependent weight values that shift the control strategy: at lower speeds, ESC commands dominate for speed consistency, while at higher speeds, collective pitch angle adjustments dominate to prevent motor overload, making the system adaptive to changing flight conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from motor rotation speed to continuously adjust control commands. The rotation speed compensator monitors actual rotation speed and generates compensation values, which are then weighted and applied to ESC commands and collective pitch angles. This closed-loop feedback ensures rotation speed consistency while preventing overload by adjusting the control mix based on real-time motor performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If compensation work is performed to ensure uniform motor output, then thrust uniformity is improved, but system complexity and adjustment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor output uniformityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation weight generator serves multiple functions: it generates weight values for ESC commands, generates weight values for collective pitch angles, and adapts to different flight speeds. This single component handles multiple compensation tasks across different operating conditions, reducing overall system complexity while achieving motor output uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-generates compensation weight values based on flight speed ranges before actual flight operations. The compensation weight generator creates speed-dependent weight values in advance, allowing the control system to quickly apply appropriate compensation without complex real-time calculations during flight, simplifying the control architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4371884B1Method and apparatus for controlling tilt rotor, and aircraft including the apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 KOREA AEROSPACE RES INST
  • EP4371884B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4371884B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4371884B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for controlling a tilt rotor is provided. The apparatus includes a thrust command generator (100) configured to generate a first collective pitch angle based on a throttle command, a rotation speed compensator (200) configured to generate a compensation value based on a target rotation speed and a current rotation speed of the motor, a compensation weight generator (300) configured to generate weight values according to a flight speed, a collective pitch angle command generator (400) configured to generate a collective pitch angle adjustment command of the rotor blade of the motor, based on a first compensation value and the first collective pitch angle, the first compensation value being obtained by multiplying the compensation value by a preset conversion ratio and a first weight value, and a motor controller (500) configured to generate a motor control command based on a second compensation value being obtained by multiplying the compensation value by a second weight value and the first collective pitch angle.