VTOL Transition Control Schedules for Minimum-Energy Flight Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

VTOL aircraft transition between hovering and cruising flight poses challenges in managing flight stability and efficiency, requiring advanced automated systems to reduce pilot skill and optimize flight profiles within various constraints.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for determining a minimum energy flight trajectory using a trajectory planning algorithm that inputs flight constraints and data to compute a control schedule, optimizing energy consumption during transition phases, and outputting this schedule to an autopilot or pilot interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If automated trajectory planning is implemented to minimize energy consumption during transition, then energy efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption during transitionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The trajectory planning algorithm computes the optimal transition trajectory in advance, before the actual transition occurs. By pre-calculating the energy-minimizing path and control schedule, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time optimization during transition, thereby reducing energy consumption while avoiding excessive system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual control is used during transition phase, then pilot skill and control precision are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The automated trajectory planning system performs the transition control function autonomously, using pre-computed trajectories and control schedules. The system serves itself by automatically managing the complex transition phase without requiring skilled manual intervention, thereby maintaining control precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If conventional autopilot is used for transition control, then ease of operation is improved, but flight stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidflight stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The trajectory planning algorithm incorporates real-time feedback from aircraft state sensors to adjust and track the pre-computed optimal trajectory. This feedback mechanism ensures that the aircraft maintains accurate adherence to the energy-minimizing path while adapting to disturbances, thereby achieving both ease of operation through automation and flight stability through continuous correction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11474540B2Aircraft control method

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 ROLLS ROYCE PLC

AI summary

A method of automatically determining a flight trajectory of a vertical take-off and landing aircraft having vectorable propulsion can be used to improve flight efficiency. The method includes receiving one or more aircraft flight constraints, inputting the aircraft flight constraints to a trajectory planning algorithm to determine a minimum energy aircraft transition trajectory, and outputting a control schedule to fly the aircraft to along the flight trajectory.