Aircraft Trick Flight Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote control quadcopters with automated tricks require pilots to relinquish control during maneuvers, limiting their ability to perform complex maneuvers and maintain control over the aircraft during automated rotations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a trick flight control process that allows pilots to maintain control over two axes of orientation while the aircraft automatically rotates about a third axis, using a 'virtual zero' frame of reference to track and compensate for rotations, enabling continuous pilot control during automated tricks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automated tricks are activated, then the aircraft can perform automated rotations easily, but the pilot must relinquish control completely to the aircraft's electronics
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into automated rotation control (one axis) and manual flight control (other axes). The flight control processor separates the rotation control function from the pilot-controlled flight functions, allowing automated tricks to operate independently while preserving pilot authority over other flight parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts between automated and manual control modes based on the activated trick. During automated tricks, the system maintains pilot control capability for non-rotation axes, creating a dynamic control architecture that adapts to the current flight mode rather than completely transferring control.
2Reliability
If the pilot relinquishes control during automated tricks, then the automated rotations can execute smoothly, but the pilot cannot perform additional maneuvers or maintain control
Solution Approach 1:
The flight control is segmented into independent axis control, where one axis is dedicated to automated rotation while other axes remain under pilot control. This segmentation allows the pilot to execute additional maneuvers on non-rotation axes simultaneously with automated tricks, enhancing versatility without compromising trick execution smoothness.
3Measurement precision
If magnetometers are added to improve position and attitude estimation, then flight control accuracy is improved, but cost and complexity increase and calibration is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnetometer from the required sensor suite by implementing a control system that relies primarily on accelerometer and gyroscope data. The flight control processor uses alternative algorithms to estimate position and attitude without magnetic field sensing, eliminating the need for magnetometers and their associated calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces expensive, calibration-requiring magnetometers with cheaper, maintenance-free inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes). While inertial sensors have drift characteristics, the system uses sensor fusion and control algorithms to maintain adequate accuracy without the complexity of magnetometer calibration.
Data Source
AI summary
Using a trick flight control process, a pilot may fly an aircraft while having control over two axes of orientation while the aircraft may be rotating automatically about a third axis of orientation. The pilot may continue to fly the aircraft during an automated trick rather than relinquishing control completely to the aircraft's electronics.