Patent classifications
B64C13/10
Reverse tactile cue for rotorcraft rotor overspeed protection
A flight control computer (FCC) for a rotorcraft includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, with the program including instructions for providing main rotor overspeed protection. The instructions for providing the main rotor overspeed protection include instructions for monitoring sensor signals indicating a main rotor RPM, determining a target operating parameter, determining one or more flight parameters in response to a relationship between the main rotor RPM and the target operating parameter indicating a main rotor overspeed condition. Determining the one or more flight parameters includes determining a setting for a flight control device of the rotorcraft that changes the main rotor RPM, controlling positioning of a pilot control according to the flight parameters, and controlling the flight control device of the rotorcraft according to positioning of the pilot control.
Pilot and Passenger Seat
The present invention achieves technical advantages as a pilot and passenger seating. An aircraft employs a pilot seat, comprising a contoured structure having ergonomically formed and padded surfaces, with left and right arm supports that include an articulated control knob, movable in three rectangular axes and rotatable about a vertical axis to provide one or more aircraft steering functions for an aircraft, and a touch-sensitive control surface for controlling one or more power system components. A passenger seat, having a contoured structure, having ergonomically formed and padded surfaces, a headrest, a seat, a left support member, and a right support member are adapted to cradle a portion of a passenger's body to support the passenger during travel.
VARIABLE OPERATOR INTERFACE FOR BACKDRIVING CONTROL INPUT DEVICES
A control system having a variable operator interface (VOI) is disclosed, and includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the processors. The memory stores program code causing the control system to detect an existence and first direction of an operator control input to one or more active inceptors being backdriven from an operator on inceptor detector (OID). The control system is caused to compare the first direction of the operator control input with a second direction of one or more zero-force detent rates to determine a variance and interprets the operator control input as inadvertent based on the variance. In response to interpreting the operator control input as inadvertent, the control system is caused to limit the operator control input to reduce or substantially eliminate movement of the machine caused by inadvertent input by modifying the operator control input based on one or more command modifiers.
Reverse Tactile Cue for Rotorcraft Rotor Overspeed Protection
A flight control computer (FCC) for a rotorcraft includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, with the program including instructions for providing main rotor overspeed protection. The instructions for providing the main rotor overspeed protection include instructions for monitoring sensor signals indicating a main rotor RPM, determining a target operating parameter, determining one or more flight parameters in response to a relationship between the main rotor RPM and the target operating parameter indicating a main rotor overspeed condition. Determining the one or more flight parameters includes determining a setting for a flight control device of the rotorcraft that changes the main rotor RPM, controlling positioning of a pilot control according to the flight parameters, and controlling the flight control device of the rotorcraft according to positioning of the pilot control.
Reverse Tactile Cue for Rotorcraft Rotor Overspeed Protection
A flight control computer (FCC) for a rotorcraft includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to be executed by the processor, with the program including instructions for providing main rotor overspeed protection. The instructions for providing the main rotor overspeed protection include instructions for monitoring sensor signals indicating a main rotor RPM, determining a target operating parameter, determining one or more flight parameters in response to a relationship between the main rotor RPM and the target operating parameter indicating a main rotor overspeed condition. Determining the one or more flight parameters includes determining a setting for a flight control device of the rotorcraft that changes the main rotor RPM, controlling positioning of a pilot control according to the flight parameters, and controlling the flight control device of the rotorcraft according to positioning of the pilot control.
System and method to manage check-lists for an aircraft pilot
A system (1) including an identification unit (2) for identifying at least one actuation element to be actuated to implement a current control from a check-list, a signaling unit (3) for visually highlighting the identified actuation element, a detection unit (4) for detecting a position of a hand of a pilot, a checking unit (5) for checking whether the detected position of the hand of the pilot is consistent with the position of the identified and highlighted actuation element for the actuation thereof, an alert unit (6) for alerting the pilot to a risk of incorrect actuation, in case of absence of consistency between the detected position of the hand of the pilot and the position of the actuation element, and a recovery unit (15) for identifying, in case of incorrect actuation, at least one suggest correct actuation element.
System and method to manage check-lists for an aircraft pilot
A system (1) including an identification unit (2) for identifying at least one actuation element to be actuated to implement a current control from a check-list, a signaling unit (3) for visually highlighting the identified actuation element, a detection unit (4) for detecting a position of a hand of a pilot, a checking unit (5) for checking whether the detected position of the hand of the pilot is consistent with the position of the identified and highlighted actuation element for the actuation thereof, an alert unit (6) for alerting the pilot to a risk of incorrect actuation, in case of absence of consistency between the detected position of the hand of the pilot and the position of the actuation element, and a recovery unit (15) for identifying, in case of incorrect actuation, at least one suggest correct actuation element.
HAPTIC ALERT MECHANISM FOR ALERTING AN AIRCRAFT PILOT, AND AN AIRCRAFT
A haptic alert mechanism. The mechanism includes an actuator. At least one arm of a movable stopping piece is connected to the actuator. A spring box is provided with an enclosure containing a pre-stressed torsion spring, said spring box being mounted to be movable in rotation about the axis of rotation. The enclosure includes at least one lug that is mounted to be movable in rotation about said axis of rotation. A finger of the torsion spring passes through an elongate orifice in a front flank of the enclosure to form a movable, resilient stop that is overridable.
Gearbox assembly
A transmission or gearbox assembly with fail-safe means for providing redundancy where failure can lead to loss of torque transmission between component parts of the assembly, the assembly comprising a plurality of first components in torque transmitting engagement and at least one second component associated with at least one of the first components, the second component being joined to the respective first component by a discontinuous joint. Preferably, each first component of the system has a corresponding second component joined thereto by a discontinuous joint.
Gearbox assembly
A transmission or gearbox assembly with fail-safe means for providing redundancy where failure can lead to loss of torque transmission between component parts of the assembly, the assembly comprising a plurality of first components in torque transmitting engagement and at least one second component associated with at least one of the first components, the second component being joined to the respective first component by a discontinuous joint. Preferably, each first component of the system has a corresponding second component joined thereto by a discontinuous joint.