A vehicle having a first configuration for road use and a second configuration for air use, comprises road wheels; a first steering control input, such as a steering wheel, for directional control of road wheels when in contact with the ground; a traction drive propulsion unit for driving road wheels when in contact with the ground, for example an electric motor connected to each driven wheel; a traction drive power control input, such as a throttle pedal; a second steering control input, such as rudder pedals, for operation of control surfaces for the aerodynamic directional control of the vehicle; an aerodynamic thrust propulsion unit for driving the vehicle through the air, such as a motor connected to a propeller mounted on the vehicle; and a thrust power control input, such as a throttle lever; and optionally a road wheel brake control input, such as a brake pedal; wherein, when the vehicle is in the second configuration and the wheels are in contact with the ground, the thrust power control input is operable to control power to the aerodynamic thrust propulsion unit and to the traction drive propulsion unit to accelerate the vehicle; and both the first steering control input and the second steering control input are operable to control the direction of travel of the vehicle.

A flight control system includes a flight control computer operable in a flight state and a ground state. A high demand trim relief logic is operable by the flight control computer in the ground state. The high demand trim relief logic is configured to automatically modify the neutral position of a rotor when a command input to the flight control computer to control the rotor is near an allowable limit.

An artificial force feel generating device for generation of an artificial feeling of force on an inceptor of a vehicle control system, the inceptor being adapted for controlling a servo-assisted control unit of the vehicle control system via a mechanical linkage, wherein at least one first force generating device and at least one second force generating device are mechanically connected to the inceptor, the first force generating device being provided for generating a nominal force acting in operation on the inceptor and the second force generating device being provided for generating a tactile cue force acting in operation on the inceptor, the first and second force generating devices being arranged in parallel. The invention relates further to an aircraft comprising such an artificial force feel generating device.

A method of providing an anti-torque force in a rotorcraft with an anti-torque system comprised of a primary ducted tail rotor system mechanically connected to an engine, and a secondary ducted tail rotor system electrically connected to an electric power supply. The method includes receiving an indication of a change in the operating condition of the anti-torque system based upon a change in a rotorcraft condition input, a feedback input associated with a primary ducted tail rotor system and/or a secondary ducted tail rotor system, and/or a pilot input; responsive to the indication of the change, determining, by a control system, an anti-torque control input including at least a secondary output command for controlling the secondary ducted tail rotor system; and transmitting the secondary output command to the secondary ducted tail rotor system to energize at least one ducted tail rotor assembly therein to provide the second anti-torque force.

An electric control device having manipulation means. The electric control device has a first measurement system and a second measurement system respectively taking a first measurement and a second measurement of the current position of the manipulation means. A processor unit compares the first and second measurements in order to generate a control signal as a function of said current position, said processor unit considering that the manipulation means are in a neutral position when the first and second measurements do not correspond to the same position for the manipulation means.

An electric pedal control device for an aircraft, the device comprising several pedal transmission assemblies, each of the pedal transmission assemblies comprising an electric motor, an elastic connector, a transmission mechanism, an angular displacement sensor, and a pedal, wherein the angular displacement sensor is configured to acquire rotational position information about the pedal; transmission mechanism revolute pairs of the transmission mechanisms in the pedal transmission assemblies are connected via a mechanical connecting rod mechanism to effect linkage; and a controller of the electric pedal control device is configured to receive the rotational position information, and to control, according to the rotational position information, the electric motors to dampen the elastic connectors.

A rudder control pedal assembly including an idler link pivotably coupled to a support frame at a first joint, a coupler link pivotably coupled to the idler link at a second joint, a drive link pivotably coupled to the coupler link at a third joint and pivotably coupled to the support frame at a fourth joint, and a pedal coupled to the coupler link and constrained to movement along an approximately linear travel path, wherein the support frame forms an imaginary fixed link to complete a four-bar linkage.

An adaptive flight control system for controlling the pitch of blades of a propulsive propeller of a hybrid helicopter as a function of the return value of the pitch. The adaptive flight control system comprises control means supplying the pitch control order, a piloting member controlling variation of the pitch, and piloting means applying a control gain in order to transform the control order into a setpoint, and transmitting the setpoint to the piloting member. The piloting means include information return means applying a return gain that is variable to the return value of the variation of the pitch to the piloting means, also modifying the control gain as a function of the return value.

Rudder pedal and brake inceptor devices are described that utilize a straight-line mechanism and rotary joints to achieve straight line motion in a compact volume. The devices can include four or more bar linkages that translate forward motion of a pedal into a rotary motion of a common shaft, such that forward motion of one pedal causes the other pedal to retract while allowing for yaw motion control of the aircraft.

An airplane rudder and brake pedal assembly includes a rudder arm assembly having one rudder arm with first upper and lower arm portions, and another rudder arm with second upper and lower arm portions. The rudder arm assembly is assembled to a beam at an intersection of the first upper and lower arm portions, and an intersection of the second upper and lower arm portions. The first and second rudder arms are configured to rotate about the beam at the intersection. The rotation of the first and second rudder arms is configured to adjust control surfaces that control a yaw axis of the airplane. A brake pedal is attached to the first and second lower arm portions. Rotation of the brake pedal brakes the airplane. A rotary sensor is assembled to the brake pedal and the lower arm portion, and configured to determine an extent of the brake pedal rotation.