A system for maintaining attitude control under degraded or depleted energy source conditions using multiple electric propulsors includes a plurality of propulsors, at least an energy source providing electric power to the plurality of propulsors and a vehicle controller communicatively coupled to each propulsor and configured to calculate initial power levels for the plurality of propulsors, the initial power levels including an initial power level for each propulsor, determine an energy output capacity of the least an energy source under load, calculate, by the vehicle controller, an aggregate potential demand of the plurality of propulsors as a function of the initial power levels, determine that electric potential is insufficient to match the aggregate potential demand, and for each initial power level generate a reduced power level, the reduced power level less than the initial power level and direct a corresponding propulsor to consume electrical power at the reduced power level.

An operating system for an automated vehicle includes a failure-detector and a controller. The failure-detector detects a component-failure on a host-vehicle. Examples of the component-failure include a flat-tire and engine trouble that reduces engine-power. The controller operates the host-vehicle based on a dynamic-model. The dynamic-model is varied based on the component-failure detected by the failure-detector.

A method for monitoring a condition of a VTOL-aircraft (1), preferably an electrically propelled, more particularly an autonomous, more particularly a multi-rotor aircraft, with a plurality of spatially distributed actuators (2i, 2o), preferably propulsion units, wherein a primary control (4.1) is used for controlling a flight state of the VTOL-aircraft (1) and at least one secondary control (4.2) is used for controlling the actuators (2i, 2o) of the VTOL-aircraft (1), preferably the propulsion units (2i, 2o); during operation. The primary control (4.1) generates a primary data set, which is subject to a first uncertainty, and is entered into an estimation algorithm, and the secondary control generates a secondary data set, which is subject to a second uncertainty, and is also entered into the estimation algorithm. The estimation algorithm processes the primary and secondary data sets and generates an estimation result that is representative of a condition of the VTOL-aircraft (1), preferably a health status of at least one actuator (2i, 2o), which estimation result is subject to a third uncertainty that is equal to or lower than the first uncertainty and/or the second uncertainty.

The present invention relates to a control method in case of engine failure of a hybrid helicopter having a power plant connected to at least one lift rotor and to at least one propeller, said lift rotor having a plurality of first blades and said at least one propeller having a plurality of second blades. The method comprises the following steps: (i) measuring a forward speed of the hybrid helicopter, (ii) on condition that said forward speed is greater than a first speed threshold and that each engine has failed, automatically implementing a first emergency piloting mode comprising a step for automatic reduction by an automatic piloting system of a pitch of said second blades toward an objective pitch making said at least one propeller produce a motive power which is transmitted to the lift rotor.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for iterating a multicopter experiencing a failure during flight, the multicopter comprising a body, and at least four effectors attached lo the body, each operable to produce both a torque and a thrust force which can cause the multicopter to fly when not experiencing said failure. The method may comprise the step of identifying a failure wherein the failure affects the torque and/or thrust force produced by an effector, and in response to identifying a failure carrying out the following steps, (1) computing an estimate of the orientation of a primary axis of said body with respect to a predefined reference frame, wherein said primary axis is an axis about which said multicopter rotates when living, (2) computing an estimate of the angular velocity of said multicopter, (3) controlling one or more of said at least four effectors based on said estimate of the orientation of the primary axis of said body with respect to said predefined reference frame and said estimate of the angular velocity of the multicopter. The step of controlling one or more of said ,u least four effectors may be performed such that (a) said one or mote electors collectively produce a torque along said primary axis and a torque perpendicular to said primary axis, wherein (i) the torque along said primary axis causes said multicopter to rotate about said primary axis, and (ii) the torque perpendicular to said primary axis causes said multicopter to move such that the orientation of said primary axis converges to a target orientation with respect to said predefined reference frame, and (b) such that said one or more effectors individually produce a thrust force along said primary axis.

The present disclosure relates generally to control systems, and in particular apparatus, methods, and systems for controlling flights remotely or onboard the vehicle. More specifically, the present disclosure describes embodiments of a control system that allows a user to control the motion of a control target in or along one or more degrees of freedom using a single controller.

An autonomous vehicle brake failure handling method is provided. The method includes detecting a brake system failure of the autonomous vehicle and transmitting a rescue request signal to a control server when the failure is detected. A bumper of the autonomous vehicle is moved into contact with a preceding autonomous vehicle bumper or the autonomous vehicle is docked with the preceding autonomous vehicle through speed control and steering control. The autonomous vehicle having the failure-detected brake system is completely braked under deceleration control of the preceding autonomous vehicle when the autonomous vehicle bumper and the preceding autonomous vehicle bumper are in contact with each other or when the docking of the autonomous vehicle and the preceding autonomous vehicle has been completed.

Aircraft autothrottle system, having a motor to impart rotational movement to a shaft extending from the motor. An actuator is connected to the shaft and to an attachment end of a throttle lever having a control end, opposite the attachment end. The actuator has bearings to apply thrust to a longitudinal surface of the shaft such that the actuator is translated longitudinally along the shaft surface in response to motor-imparted rotation of the shaft. The shaft surface being smoothly continuous and longitudinally unbroken along its elongation to allow the actuator to longitudinally slip along the shaft irrespective of any shaft rotation by the motor when the thrust force exceeds a linear force manually applied at the throttle lever. An electronic controller for the motor to move the throttle lever so the motor moves the actuator assembly along the shaft based on an engine parameter monitored by the controller.

A control device for an electromechanical system includes at least one group of actuators, of which in each case one actuator is configured to be coupled to a mechanical and/or hydraulic unit and is configured to control an operation of the mechanical and/or hydraulic unit. The control device further includes at least one group of functional modules, which are implemented on at least one computing platform. The at least one group of functional modules includes a plurality of control modules, each respective control module being respectively assigned to and coupled in a communicative manner to a respective actuator, and a coordinating module communicatively coupled to the plurality of control modules. The coordinating module is designed to receive, from each respective control module of the plurality of control modules, fault messages with respect to an operating state of the associated mechanical and/or hydraulic unit and/or the associated actuator.

A method and system for providing corrective action to a rotorcraft experiencing motor failure is provided. Included in the method and system are embodiments that receive feedback from sensors directed at measuring a state of motors used to provide lift to the rotorcraft. The method and system also describe embodiments for determining that there is a malfunctioning motor, and furthermore, the appropriate corrective action for responding to the malfunctioning motor. In some embodiments, the method and system are configured to reduce power to the malfunctioning motor while simultaneously adjusting power supplied to the remaining motors such that changes in total thrust and net torque are minimized. Further, the method and system are configured to perform diagnostics on the malfunctioning motor while power is still being supplied to the first motor.