VTOL Touchdown Control System for Asymmetric Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
VTOL aircraft landings, especially during autorotative or engine failure conditions, pose challenges due to asymmetric loads on landing components due to variability in pilot techniques and environmental factors, requiring precise control to minimize forces on wheels or skids.
Innovation Solution
A touchdown control system that includes a detection controller for monitoring aircraft state signals such as altitude, attitude, and external environment signals, an enable controller for providing a touchdown control signal, and a regulation controller for adjusting aircraft control surfaces to facilitate controlled touchdowns, reducing pilot load and maintaining desired force levels on landing gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual pilot control is used during touchdown, then pilot flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but landing force variability increases and exposes aircraft to asymmetric loads
Solution Approach 1:
The aircraft system performs self-control during touchdown through the automated regulation controller that adjusts control surfaces based on detected aircraft state and environmental conditions, eliminating the need for manual pilot input while maintaining consistent landing forces
Solution Approach 2:
The regulation controller continuously receives feedback from detection controllers monitoring aircraft state signals (altitude, attitude, velocity, proximity) and environmental signals (wind speed, ground attitude), then adjusts control surfaces in real-time to maintain optimal touchdown conditions and minimize asymmetric loads
2Reliability
If automated touchdown control is implemented, then landing force consistency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated touchdown control system is divided into distinct functional modules: detection controllers that monitor specific parameters (altitude, attitude, velocity, proximity, environmental conditions), an enable controller that determines when automated control should be activated, and a regulation controller that executes control surface adjustments. This segmentation manages complexity by distributing functions across specialized components
Solution Approach 2:
The regulation controller serves multiple functions by selectively adjusting various aircraft control surfaces (elevators, ailerons, rudders, thrust commands) based on the same integrated input from detection controllers, eliminating the need for separate control systems for each parameter
3Ease of operation
If pilot training and finesse are emphasized, then autorotative and OEI landings can be completed, but variability in techniques leads to asymmetric loads on landing components
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual pilot mechanical control inputs with automated electronic control signals that directly actuate control surfaces, eliminating the variability inherent in human technique while maintaining the ability to execute complex autorotative and OEI landings
Solution Approach 2:
The automated control system acts as an intermediary between the aircraft's flight conditions and control surface actuation, processing multiple sensor inputs and translating them into precise control commands that minimize asymmetric loads on landing components during challenging landing scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
A touchdown control system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft including a detection controller receptive to aircraft state signals including one or more of an altitude signal, an aircraft attitude signal, an external environment signal, an aircraft velocity signal, an attitude rate signal, and a proximity signal. An enable controller is operatively connected to the detection controller. The enable controller selectively provides a touchdown control signal based on one or more of the altitude signal, the aircraft attitude signal, the external environment signal, the aircraft velocity signal, the attitude rate signal, and the proximity signal. A regulation controller is operatively connected to the enable controller. The regulation controller selectively adjusts aircraft control surfaces based on the touchdown control signal to facilitate final touchdown of the VTOL aircraft.