Patent classifications
G05D2109/23
Parallel and series multi-stage electric fan
Aspects described herein may relate to aerial structures such as aircraft. An aerial structure may include a fuselage, a wing attached to the fuselage, and a plurality of propulsion systems configured to generate thrust. A propulsion system may include a plurality of propulsors, such as propulsor fans. A propulsor fan may be configured to be actuated between a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) flight mode, a short take-off and landing (STOL) flight mode, and a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flight mode.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INITIATING A COMMAND OF AN ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
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, receive a sensor datum from a sensor, identify an air position as a function of the sensor datum and the topographical datum, determine a command, including an actuator command, as a function of the identified air position and the determining of the command includes identifying at least one flight component of the eVTOL aircraft to be adjusted to perform the determined command, and initiate the command to adjust the identified flight component.
ENHANCED FLIGHT MODE
During aircraft descent, flight control systems seek and maintain a glide slope determined from a single pilot input parameter; e.g., the position of a control axis of a flight stick. Appropriate guide slope selection by the pilot is readily determined from the pilot's visual observation of an intended landing site during landing approach. The glide slope defines a ratio of forward speed and descent speed which is automatically established and maintained/updated according to pilot input while these speeds are also automatically reduced during descent, despite the two speed directions respectively being affected distinctly and differently by aircraft mechanisms which control them. The aircraft ends its glide path with speed at or near zero, allowing landing by short vertical descent. Accordingly, the pilot offloads problems of both coordinating speeds to achieve a particular guide slope, and reducing them while maintaining this coordination.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A FLIGHT BOUNDARY OF AN AIRCRAFT
A system for controlling a flight boundary of an aircraft. The system includes a flight controller communicatively connected to the aircraft. The flight controller is configured to receive a plurality of flight data linked with the aircraft, determine a flight boundary for the aircraft as a function of the plurality of flight data, set an aircraft movement limit as a function of the flight boundary, receive a thrust envelope, and generate a control signal for the aircraft as a function of the aircraft movement limit and the thrust envelope. The control signal is limits the aircraft to remain within the flight boundary. A method for controlling a flight boundary of an aircraft is also provided.
SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR BATTERY MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
This disclosure relates to flight control of electric aircraft and other vehicles. A computer-implemented method for estimating available range of an aircraft in flight is disclosed, comprising: receiving electrical information of one or more batteries measured using a first sensor; estimating aircraft-level energy based on electrical information of the one or more batteries; receiving one or more of an altitude of the aircraft or a current airspeed of the aircraft measured using a second sensor; estimating a steady-state force based on the one or more of the altitude of the aircraft or the current airspeed of the aircraft; estimating one or more of a vertical landing range or a horizontal landing range based on the one or more of the estimated aircraft-level energy or the estimated steady-state force; and displaying the one or more of the estimated vertical landing range or the estimated horizontal landing range on a display.
Method for estimating the rotor torques of an aircraft capable of hovering and control unit for an aircraft capable of hovering
A method for estimating rotor torques of an aircraft capable of hovering and comprising a plurality of rotors, which are rotatable under the action of respective rotor torques; and an engine, which is operatively connected to the rotors to provide them with an engine torque. Each rotor comprises a hub and a plurality of blades articulated on the respective hub in such a way that respective collective pitch angles are adjustable. The method comprises the steps of i) calculating a symmetric component on the basis of the engine torque; ii) receiving a signal associated with collective pitch angles; iii) calculating an asymmetric component on the basis of a pitch angle difference between the collective pitch angles; and iv) calculating each rotor torque as the algebraic sum of the symmetric component and the respective asymmetric component.