Unfinned Air Platform Control Using Distributed Propulsion Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lighter than air platforms face challenges with empennage, which cause deviations in pitch, yaw, or roll due to wind and drag variations, leading to potential damage and reduced payload capacity due to additional mass and structural issues.
Innovation Solution
An active stability control system with a navigation controller and distributed propulsion elements that monitor and counteract perturbations, eliminating the need for empennage by providing refined navigation instructions and coordinated propulsion to maintain stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If empennage are added to provide passive counter moments, then stability against perturbations is improved, but device complexity and mass increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical empennage structure with an active control system using distributed propulsion elements and a navigation controller. The navigation controller monitors perturbations and coordinates propulsion elements to generate counter moments, substituting passive mechanical stability with active computational control.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed propulsion elements serve multiple functions: they provide primary propulsion for forward motion and simultaneously act as control surfaces for stability and perturbation correction. This eliminates the need for separate empennage structures while achieving both propulsion and stabilization functions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If empennage are added to counteract perturbations, then stability is improved, but mass increases reducing payload capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed propulsion elements serve dual purposes as both propulsion systems and stability control surfaces, eliminating the need for separate empennage structures and their associated mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts propulsion values of distributed elements to generate appropriate counter moments for perturbation correction, replacing fixed mass empennage with variable parameter control.
3Strength
If empennage are bonded to envelope, then structural connection is provided, but reliability decreases due to potential seam failure and leaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the empennage structure entirely from the envelope, eliminating the bonded seams that connect empennage to the envelope and thereby eliminating the reliability issues associated with seam failure and leaking.
4Force
If empennage are included, then counter moment capability is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates due to uncontrolled rotation and escalating deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation controller continuously monitors the actual flight path and perturbations, compares them with specified values, and dynamically adjusts propulsion element output to generate appropriate counter moments, providing active feedback control that prevents escalating deviation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic adjustment of propulsion element characteristics to provide adaptive counter moments that respond to changing perturbation conditions, replacing static empennage with dynamically controllable propulsion.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighter than air platform an unfinned envelope having two or more propulsion elements coupled with the unfinned envelope proximate to the center of gravity. At least one navigation sensor is configured to monitor an actual flight path of the unfinned envelope, and at least one perturbation sensor is configured to monitor one or more perturbations of the unfinned envelope. A navigation controller is configured to guide the unfinned envelope with coordinated propulsion of the two or more propulsion elements. The navigation controller includes a navigation comparator that compares the actual flight path with a specified flight path of the unfinned envelope and determine a navigation instruction. A perturbation comparator compares the navigation instruction with the monitored one or more perturbations to determine a perturbation compensation. A propulsion coordinator controls propulsion values of each of the propulsion elements based on the navigation instruction and the perturbation compensation.