VTOL Ground Effect Prediction for Hover Transition Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
VTOL aircraft face challenges in managing ground effects, including in-ground and out-of-ground effects, which can lead to undesirable forces and potential damage to equipment and other aircraft, especially during hover taxiing and transitions between these effects, necessitating effective prediction and control systems.
Innovation Solution
The system predicts ground effect change points along a flight plan by determining the weight and temperature of the VTOL aircraft and using geospatial data to generate commands for controlling the aircraft, displaying symbology to pilots, and adjusting flight controls to manage ground effect forces through a processor-executed process involving a database of ground effect charts and learning algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If VTOL aircraft operate in in-ground effect during hover taxiing, then additional lift force is generated, but outflow distortion of blade tip vortices increases causing potential damage to adjacent equipment and aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of ground effect change points along the flight plan before execution, using stored ground effect charts and current aircraft parameters to predict where transitions will occur, allowing advance preparation for control adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors aircraft position, weight, and temperature parameters, comparing actual values against predicted ground effect conditions to dynamically adjust control commands and maintain safe operation through closed-loop feedback
2Ease of operation
If VTOL aircraft transition from in-ground effect to out-of-ground effect, then hover capability is restored, but noticeable force change occurs requiring control adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates ground effect change points in advance along the planned flight path, identifying transition zones before the aircraft reaches them, allowing proactive adjustment of control commands to smooth out force changes during transitions
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary control commands to counteract the anticipated force changes during ground effect transitions, using predicted change points to pre-adjust thrust and attitude controls before the actual transition occurs
3Reliability
If ground effect prediction system is implemented, then safety and operational efficiency are improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple parameters and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Ground effect charts are pre-calculated and stored in the system database containing complex relationships between altitude, temperature, weight, and ground effect magnitude, allowing the flight management system to perform simple lookups and calculations during flight rather than complex real-time simulations
Solution Approach 2:
The ground effect prediction system is integrated into the existing flight management system, using the same processors, databases, and control interfaces already present in modern VTOL aircraft, thereby avoiding additional dedicated hardware and reducing overall system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables safe and controlled operation of VTOL aircraft by predicting and managing ground effects, reducing the risk of force changes and equipment damage, and enhancing pilot awareness through graphical and audible alerts, thereby improving safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
VTOL aircraft (rotorcrafts or air taxi's) are frequently subjected to ground effects including in-ground effects (IGE) and out-of-ground effects (OGE). The in-ground effects induce an additional lift force on the aircraft
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for predicting ground effects along a flight plan. The systems and methods provide a processor executed process including the steps: receiving a flight plan for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft; receiving terrain and obstacles geospatial data for the flight plan from the database; determining weight of the VTOL aircraft along the flight plan; determining temperature of the environment along the flight plan; determining ground effect data along the flight plan based on the temperature and the weight; and generating one or more commands to control a system of the VTOL aircraft based on the ground effect data.