G05D1/106

SYSTEM FOR AIDING FORMATION FLYING OF AIRCRAFT
20230002070 · 2023-01-05 ·

A system for aiding formation flying of a follower aircraft with respect to a wake vortex from a leader aircraft comprises a controller and at least one accelerometer installed on the follower aircraft. The controller receives acceleration measurements performed by the at least one accelerometer and processes the measurements to obtain a value representative of vibrations generated by the wake vortex from the leader aircraft. The controller compares the value with at least one predetermined threshold representative of excessive vibrations with regard to location of the at least one accelerometer on the follower aircraft. One or more notifications, such as alerts, are generated based on the result of the comparison. It is easier to position the follower aircraft in formation flying to benefit from a rising airflow phenomenon brought about by the wake vortex from the leader aircraft.

VISION-BASED LANDING SYSTEM

A system includes one or more cameras configured to attach to an aircraft and capture a plurality of images. The plurality of images includes a first image including a runway and a subsequently captured second image including the runway. The system includes an aircraft computing system configured to identify common features in the first and second images, determine changes in locations of the common features between the first and second images, and determine a predicted landing location of the aircraft in the second image based on the changes in locations of the common features. The aircraft computing system is configured to abort landing on the runway based on the predicted landing location relative to the runway.

AUTOMATIC LOW-SPEED AIRCRAFT MANEUVER WIND COMPENSATION

Automatic low-speed aircraft maneuver wind compensation is implemented by an aircraft flight control system flight control computer (FCC) configured to receive or retrieve steady wind data and retrieve groundspeed data for the aircraft. The FCC computes two-dimensional relative horizontal airspeed (i.e., horizontal relative to the surface of the earth) for the aircraft, using the steady wind data and the groundspeed data for the aircraft, and computes relative changes in trim controls of the aircraft using the two-dimensional relative horizontal airspeed of the aircraft. The resulting relative changes in controls of the aircraft due to relative horizontal airspeed changes are applied to flight element control actuators.

System and method for initiating a command of an electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) aircraft
11561557 · 2023-01-24 · ·

A system for initiating a command of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft includes a flight controller configured to receive a topographical datum, identify an air position as a function of a sensor and the topographical datum, wherein identifying further comprises obtaining a sensor datum as a function of the sensor, and identifying the air position as a function of the sensor datum and the topographical datum using a similarity function, determine a command as a function of the air position, and initiate the command.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT CONTROL WITH MODE SELECTION FOR AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
20230229174 · 2023-07-20 · ·

A system and method for autonomous flight control with mode selection an electric aircraft is illustrated. The system comprises an altitude-related sensor and a computing device. The altitude-related sensor is coupled to the electric aircraft and is configured to detect an altitude value. The computing device is communicatively connected to the altitude-related sensor and is configured to receive the altitude value from the altitude-related sensor, to determine a flight mode as a function of the altitude value and an altitude threshold, to determine an aircraft adjustment as a function of a determine flight mode, and to generate an autonomous function configured to enact the determined flight mode and an aircraft adjustment automatically.

Systems And Methods For Operating Drones In Proximity To Objects

Systems and methods for operating drones in proximity to objects are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining a change in drone, flight status that involves a rotor of the drone being active, determining presence of a mobile device within a designated clearance area established around the drone, preventing the drone from landing, providing a warning message to a user of the mobile device to clear away from the designated clearance area, detecting that the mobile device and the user are not within the designated clearance area, and causing the drone to land.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT COLLISION AVOIDANCE IN AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
20230019396 · 2023-01-19 · ·

A system for autonomous flight collision avoidance in ana electric aircraft, where the system includes an electric aircraft. The electric aircraft includes a at least a sensor coupled to the electric aircraft, where the at least a sensor coupled to the aircraft is configured to detect an obstacle in the electric aircraft's flight path and transmit the obstacle to a flight controller. The electric aircraft also includes a flight controller where the flight controller is configured to receive the obstacle from the at least a sensor coupled to the electric aircraft, determine an adjusted flight path as a function of the obstacle, and transmit the adjusted flight path to a pilot display. The system further includes a pilot display, where the pilot display is configured to receive the adjusted flight path form the flight controller and display the adjusted flight path to a user.

CONFLICT DETECTION AND AVOIDANCE FOR A ROBOT BASED ON PERCEPTION UNCERTAINTY
20230221723 · 2023-07-13 ·

A method is provided for detecting and avoiding conflict during a mission of a robot that includes a global route of travel. The method includes monitoring a state of the robot and a state of an environment of the robot as the robot travels the global route. The method includes generating a local route of travel through a region of the environment that includes the robot, the region having a size and shape that are set based on a type of the robot and the state of the robot when the local route is generated. A measure of uncertainty in the perception of objects in the region is monitored based on the state of the environment. And the robot is caused to maintain the global route or transition to the local route based on a comparison of the measure of uncertainty and an uncertainty threshold.

Method for transporting a rescue device from an aerial vehicle to a person to be rescued, rescue system for rescuing a person to be rescued, and unmanned aerial vehicle for transporting a rescue device from an aerial vehicle to a person to be rescued
11697499 · 2023-07-11 · ·

A method for transporting a rescue device from an aerial vehicle to a person to be rescued includes launching an unmanned aerial vehicle from the aerial vehicle having an end portion releasable attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a first connection and a second connection. The method further includes enabling the person to be rescued to reach the end portion of the rescue device. and determining whether the end portion of the rescue device is released from the first connection. If the rescue device is released determining at the unmanned aerial vehicle whether the person to be rescued is safely attached to the rescue device. If so, the method comprises either releasing the rescue device from the second connection, or deactivating the unmanned aerial vehicle such that the unmanned aerial vehicle remains attached to the rescue device via the second connection.

MISSION-ADAPTABLE PROCEDURES FOR AIRCRAFT

Systems and methods for mission-based path modifications are presented herein. One or more processors may be coupled with memory and housed in a vehicle. The one or more processors may receive data indicative of an issue with at least one function of the vehicle during a mission defined by a type of cargo and a flight path comprising a plurality of segments. The one or more processors may determine, responsive to the issue with the at least one function, an action to perform for the vehicle based on the issue, a current segment of the plurality of segments, and the mission. The one or more processors may execute, during the current segment or a subsequent segment of the plurality of segments, the action on the vehicle.