Vehicle Control System with Decoupled Force Generators for Manned Unmanned Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle control systems face challenges in enabling both manned and unmanned operation, particularly in areas with high traffic, and require adaptations to handle failure cases such as loss of stabilization or actuator jamming, which can lead to degradation of automatic flight control systems (AFCS) performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system incorporating a servo-assisted control unit, mechanical linkage, inceptor, first and second force generating devices, hands-on/off detection management unit, and a decoupling device that allows operation in manned or unmanned modes, with redundant systems and increased performance actuators to manage failures and ensure safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional vehicle control systems are used for manned operation with artificial force feel generating devices, then the pilot can sensitively control the vehicle, but the system cannot be easily adapted for unmanned operation and has limited capability to handle failure cases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions by supporting both manned and unmanned operation modes. The force generating devices can provide artificial force feel for pilot control in manned mode, or generate forces to move the inceptor to neutral position and maintain stabilization in unmanned mode, making the system universally applicable to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its behavior based on the operational mode. In manned operation, the force generating devices provide moderate artificial forces for sensitive control. In unmanned operation, the system can increase force magnitude for stabilization and use multiple force generating devices in parallel to handle failure cases, allowing the system to optimize performance for each specific mode.
2Reliability
If artificial breakout forces are increased to support automatic flight control system (AFCS) actuator signals, then the AFCS can overcome artificial forces more effectively, but the forces become too strong for sensitive pilot control
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the magnitude of artificial forces based on the operational mode. During manned operation, moderate artificial breakout forces are provided to maintain pilot control sensitivity. During unmanned operation, the force magnitude can be increased to effectively support AFCS actuator signals, as the pilot is not directly controlling the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The force generating devices are pre-configured to provide appropriate force levels for different operational modes. The system can preliminarily establish the necessary force magnitude before unmanned operation begins, ensuring the AFCS has sufficient force to overcome artificial forces without requiring excessive force during manned control.
3Reliability
If redundant systems and multiple force generating devices are added to handle failure cases, then the system reliability improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple force generating devices in parallel to provide redundant capability for handling failure cases. While this increases component count, the additional devices are only fully utilized when failures occur, allowing the system to achieve high reliability for critical failure scenarios without requiring all redundant components to be actively managed during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle and to a method of operating such a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system may include an inceptor adapted for controlling a servo-assisted control unit via a mechanical linkage, first and second force generating devices that are mechanically connected to the inceptor in parallel and provided for generating respective first and second forces that act in operation on the inceptor, a hands-on/off detection management unit, and a decoupling device that mechanically decouples the second force generating device from the inceptor based on a control signal from the hands-on/off detection management unit.