The invention concerns an automatic flight controller with operating elements, by means of which target settings of the automatic flight controller can be set by an operator, and with display elements for data display, wherein the display elements comprise at least two mutually separate displays that are disposed on the front, for example a front panel, of the automatic flight controller, wherein a) the at least two mutually separate displays are high resolution graphical displays and/or b) the automatic flight controller is designed to display all operating mode awareness-relevant parameters of the automatic flight controller on one or more of the at least two mutually separate displays of the automatic flight controller.

The invention further concerns an aircraft cockpit with such an automatic flight controller as well as a method for operating a flight controller. The invention also concerns a computer program for carrying out the method

The invention concerns an automatic flight controller with operating elements, by means of which target settings of the automatic flight controller can be set by an operator, and with display elements for data display, wherein the display elements comprise at least two mutually separate displays that are disposed on the front, for example a front panel, of the automatic flight controller, wherein a) the at least two mutually separate displays are high resolution graphical displays and/or b) the automatic flight controller is designed to display all operating mode awareness-relevant parameters of the automatic flight controller on one or more of the at least two mutually separate displays of the automatic flight controller.

The invention further concerns an aircraft cockpit with such an automatic flight controller as well as a method for operating a flight controller. The invention also concerns a computer program for carrying out the method

A capture drone is an unmanned flying object that flies in the air. The capture drone includes a capture net that captures other object in the air, a weight capture determining unit that detects that the capture net has captured the object, and an autonomous flight controller that controls a flight state of the capture drone to be an autonomous flight state not dependent on an operation signal from the outside if the weight capture determining unit detects the capture of the object.

A capture drone is an unmanned flying object that flies in the air. The capture drone includes a capture net that captures other object in the air, a weight capture determining unit that detects that the capture net has captured the object, and an autonomous flight controller that controls a flight state of the capture drone to be an autonomous flight state not dependent on an operation signal from the outside if the weight capture determining unit detects the capture of the object.

A system for controlling yaw associated with an airship may include one or more vertical control surfaces associated with the airship, a first power source and a second power source, each configured to provide a thrust associated with the airship, and a yaw control configured to receive an input indicative of a desired yaw angle. The system may further include a controller communicatively connected to the yaw control, the one or more vertical control surfaces, and the first and second power sources. The controller may be configured to receive an output signal from the yaw control corresponding to the desired yaw angle and to generate a control signal configured to modify a state associated with at least one of the one or more vertical control surfaces, the first power source, and the second power source, such that the airship substantially attains the desired yaw angle.

A system and method for detecting yoke interference for an aircraft having an auto pitch trim function is provided. The system includes a source of elevator load data, a source of aircraft speed data, and a processing system. The processing system is coupled to receive the elevator load data, the aircraft speed data, and initial condition center-of-gravity (CG) data that is representative of at least an estimated initial position of the CG of the aircraft. The processing system is configured to process at least the speed data and the initial condition CG data to: (i) determine an expected elevator load on the elevator flight control surface, (ii) determine if the expected elevator load exceeds the sensed elevator load by a predetermined magnitude, and (iii) when the expected elevator load exceeds the sensed elevator load by a predetermined magnitude, generate a disconnect signal that will disable the auto pitch trim function.

A system and method for detecting yoke interference for an aircraft having an auto pitch trim function is provided. The system includes a source of elevator load data, a source of aircraft speed data, and a processing system. The processing system is coupled to receive the elevator load data, the aircraft speed data, and initial condition center-of-gravity (CG) data that is representative of at least an estimated initial position of the CG of the aircraft. The processing system is configured to process at least the speed data and the initial condition CG data to: (i) determine an expected elevator load on the elevator flight control surface, (ii) determine if the expected elevator load exceeds the sensed elevator load by a predetermined magnitude, and (iii) when the expected elevator load exceeds the sensed elevator load by a predetermined magnitude, generate a disconnect signal that will disable the auto pitch trim function.

A method for optimizing the take-off parameters of an aircraft. The aircraft comprises a system for automatically controlling the high lift devices at the moment when the wheels of the aircraft leave the ground. The method comprises a step of selecting a first configuration of the high lift devices at the start of the take-off phase and a selection of an acceleration speed of the aircraft. The method is advantageous in that, on reception of an actual aircraft take-off detection signal, a control unit is configured to transmit a control command making it possible to bring the high lift devices into a second configuration, in which they are retracted relative to the first position, and consecutively accelerate the speed of the aircraft automatically to an acceleration speed entered by the pilot.

Systems and methods for operating control surfaces of an aircraft. The method involves receiving, by an aircraft control system from one or more sensors, deflection information related to a shape and motion of an aircraft, and decomposing, by the aircraft control system, the deflection information into a detected modal state including a first known mode having a first mode strength. The method may further involve determining, by the aircraft control system, a first modal compensation based on the first mode strength, and identifying, by the aircraft control system, a desired control corresponding to a second known mode. The method may yet further involve determining a first control response for a control surface having a first modal weight and a second modal weight, based on the first modal compensation and the first modal weight, and determining a second control response for the control surface based on the desired control and the second modal weight. The method may still further involve generating a control command for the control surface based on the first control response and the second control response.

Systems and methods for operating control surfaces of an aircraft. The method involves receiving, by an aircraft control system from one or more sensors, deflection information related to a shape and motion of an aircraft, and decomposing, by the aircraft control system, the deflection information into a detected modal state including a first known mode having a first mode strength. The method may further involve determining, by the aircraft control system, a first modal compensation based on the first mode strength, and identifying, by the aircraft control system, a desired control corresponding to a second known mode. The method may yet further involve determining a first control response for a control surface having a first modal weight and a second modal weight, based on the first modal compensation and the first modal weight, and determining a second control response for the control surface based on the desired control and the second modal weight. The method may still further involve generating a control command for the control surface based on the first control response and the second control response.