A flight control system, including a flight control computer (FCC) configured for providing a first and second flight function, and sending, to effectors of an aircraft, first command signals based on the first and second flight functions, and a second computer configured for providing one or more autonomy functions associated with operation of the aircraft, and that are different from the first and second flight functions, monitoring operation of the FCC, determining whether the FCC has failed, and providing a fail-safe mode for at least the first flight function in response to determining that the FCC has failed. Providing the fail-safe mode includes providing one or more critical flight functions that includes the first flight function, and sending, to the effectors, second command signals that replace a first command signal associated with the first flight function and that are based on the critical flight functions.

A flight control system, including a flight control computer (FCC) configured for providing a first and second flight function, and sending, to effectors of an aircraft, first command signals based on the first and second flight functions, and a second computer configured for providing one or more autonomy functions associated with operation of the aircraft, and that are different from the first and second flight functions, monitoring operation of the FCC, determining whether the FCC has failed, and providing a fail-safe mode for at least the first flight function in response to determining that the FCC has failed. Providing the fail-safe mode includes providing one or more critical flight functions that includes the first flight function, and sending, to the effectors, second command signals that replace a first command signal associated with the first flight function and that are based on the critical flight functions.

A flight control system for an aircraft including a first set of primary flight control computers and a second set of secondary flight control computers, where each primary flight control computer implements a first autopilot functionality. The secondary flight control computers jointly take control of control surface actuators when the primary flight control computers fail. The flight control system further includes another computer, to which the secondary flight control computers are connected, which implements a simplified second autopilot functionality, the second autopilot functionality being able to be activated only when the second set of flight control computers has control of the control surface actuators. Thus, an autopilot functionality is widely available, while at the same time ensuring the robustness sought by the installation of the secondary flight control computers.

A computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive a first vehicle operation command defining a first desired operation of an autonomous vehicle; control a primary vehicle system to perform the first desired operation; send a request for testing a secondary vehicle system being a backup of the primary vehicle system; receive an indication that a present traffic situation is suitable for testing the secondary vehicle system; receive a second vehicle operation command defining a second desired operation of the autonomous vehicle; control the secondary vehicle system to perform the second desired operation; receive a third vehicle operation command defining a third desired operation of the autonomous vehicle; and control the primary vehicle system to perform the third desired operation.

A computer system comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive a first vehicle operation command defining a first desired operation of an autonomous vehicle; control a primary vehicle system to perform the first desired operation; send a request for testing a secondary vehicle system being a backup of the primary vehicle system; receive an indication that a present traffic situation is suitable for testing the secondary vehicle system; receive a second vehicle operation command defining a second desired operation of the autonomous vehicle; control the secondary vehicle system to perform the second desired operation; receive a third vehicle operation command defining a third desired operation of the autonomous vehicle; and control the primary vehicle system to perform the third desired operation.

Data from multiple agricultural operations in the same field is shared, securely, without the need for complex setup procedures. One agricultural implement can operate off of the agricultural data produced by other agricultural implements, which can, by way of example and with respect to a planting operation, result in a shared shutoff of seed application. If a single task is distributed to multiple agricultural implements, whichever agricultural implement starts the task can join to a common sharing of data. Another technique for sharing data can involve all shared agricultural implements using an initial, preferably identical, provisioning key. Maintenance of fields deemed to be geographically similar is made particularly easier through use of the present invention.

Data from multiple agricultural operations in the same field is shared, securely, without the need for complex setup procedures. One agricultural implement can operate off of the agricultural data produced by other agricultural implements, which can, by way of example and with respect to a planting operation, result in a shared shutoff of seed application. If a single task is distributed to multiple agricultural implements, whichever agricultural implement starts the task can join to a common sharing of data. Another technique for sharing data can involve all shared agricultural implements using an initial, preferably identical, provisioning key. Maintenance of fields deemed to be geographically similar is made particularly easier through use of the present invention.

Sharing planter data is made efficient through an initial separation of agricultural data before transmission of the same. During performance of agricultural tasks, generated data is stored in files representing geographic regions. Several data layers of the files correspond to various agricultural aspects which can then be selectively transmitted with smaller parsed files. The received data can be harmonized into the same format used by the receiving agricultural implement. Sharing planter data in this way obviates performance degradation for rural cellular networks.

Sharing planter data is made efficient through an initial separation of agricultural data before transmission of the same. During performance of agricultural tasks, generated data is stored in files representing geographic regions. Several data layers of the files correspond to various agricultural aspects which can then be selectively transmitted with smaller parsed files. The received data can be harmonized into the same format used by the receiving agricultural implement. Sharing planter data in this way obviates performance degradation for rural cellular networks.

A method for flight control of an aircraft with multiple actuators during flight is disclosed. For each actuator, a control command is computed according to at least one predetermined control law and based on pilot inputs and sensor measurements in relation to a physical state of the aircraft. The respective control commands are provided to the actuators. The control commands are independently monitored by estimating or measuring a current physical state of the aircraft and comparing it with the control commands. This comparison includes checking whether the control commands stabilize the aircraft in a stable state in the absence of both disturbances and pilot inputs according to at least one predefined criterion. If the monitoring indicates a lack of stability, transmission of the control commands is prevented and a backup control command is computed for each actuator.