A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle and to a method of operating such a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system may include an inceptor adapted for controlling a servo-assisted control unit via a mechanical linkage, first and second force generating devices that are mechanically connected to the inceptor in parallel and provided for generating respective first and second forces that act in operation on the inceptor, a hands-on/off detection management unit, and a decoupling device that mechanically decouples the second force generating device from the inceptor based on a control signal from the hands-on/off detection management unit.

The invention relates to a force application device for a control stick of an aircraft, said stick comprising a control lever that is connected to a motor comprising a drive shaft, said device having: a first pin connected to the drive shaft, a housing, a second pin secured to the housing, an electromagnet secured in relation to the housing, a movable actuator which comprises a magnetic material such that said actuator can be displaced depending on a supply of current of the electromagnet, and means for clamping the first pin and the second pin which comprise a first tooth and a second tooth, said device having an operating configuration in which the electromagnet is active and the actuator separates the teeth away from the first pin and the second pin, and a blocking configuration in which the electromagnet is inactive, with the first tooth and the second tooth coming into contact with the first pin and the second pin.

A flight control system having a plurality of dual mode operator control inputs is disclosed and includes a plurality of active parallel actuators, one or more processors, and memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the flight control system to receive a signal indicating an airspeed of the compound aircraft and select between rotary and fixed wing modes of operation based on the airspeed. In response to selecting a mode of operation, the flight control system sends either a rotary or a fixed wing force feel profile to the plurality of active parallel actuators, where the force feel profile defines the respective detent force gradient, where the fixed wing detent force gradient is at least about two times greater than a rotary wing detent force gradient.

An aircraft inceptor system includes an inceptor member arranged to be operated by a user to cause a corresponding movement of a moveable aircraft surface. The system also includes means for detecting the operation of the inceptor member by the user and for providing a movement signal, associated with the detected operation, to a flight control computer, the flight control computer providing a control signal to an actuator to move the aircraft surface according to the movement signal. The means for detecting the operation of the inceptor member by the user comprises a force sensor configured to sense the force applied by the user to the inceptor member, the movement signal being derived based on the sensed force.

Systems and methods for compactly mounted cyclic flight control for a rotorcraft. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a stick base assembly coupled with a cyclic stick and configured to rotate with respect to a mounting frame to control a pitch and a roll of the rotorcraft. A cyclic housing is pivotably coupled with the mounting frame for rotation about a pitch axis to control pitch, and coupled with a pitch actuator having a pitch force sensor to measure its resistance to rotation. The cyclic housing supports the stick base assembly for independent rotation of the stick base assembly about a roll axis to control roll, and the stick base assembly couples with a roll actuator having a roll force sensor to measure its resistance to rotation.

Safer, redundant electromechanical flight control boost actuators for aircraft, having simple feedback mechanism independent of fly-by-wire systems are described herein.

Said redundancy is achieved by two independent electric motors' systems and dual feedback mechanism.

An interconnected flight controller for an aircraft includes a mechanical linkage connecting a pilot interface with a copilot interface. When an input is provided to either of the pilot or copilot interfaces, coordinated motion is provided between them of a proportional magnitude and direction. A mechanical-disconnect element within the mechanical linkage is adapted to actuate mechanical decoupling between the pilot interface and the copilot interface. One or more sensors is coupled to the mechanical linkage to sense inputs and communicate the inputs to a fly-by-wire flight controller. An autopilot servo is coupled to the mechanical linkage for providing autopilot control or feedback and a force-feedback subsystem is connected to the mechanical linkage to simulate and apply an opposing force of aircraft control surfaces to the pilot interface and the copilot interface.

A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle and to a method of operating such a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system may include an inceptor adapted for controlling a servo-assisted control unit via a mechanical linkage first and second force generating devices that are mechanically connected to the inceptor in parallel and provided for generating respective first and second forces that act in operation on the inceptor, a hands-on/off detection management unit, and a decoupling device that mechanically decouples the second force generating device from the inceptor based on a control signal from the hands-on/off detection management unit.

A combined active stick and control boost actuator system for a control surface has a control stick engaged to a mechanical flight control structure with a linkage configured to move a control surface. A mechanical interconnect engages the linkage and has a control stick connection. An integrated actuator is separably connected to the mechanical interconnect intermediate the control stick connection and the linkage. A stick force sensor is configured to provide a stick force signal. A flight control system receives the stick force signal and provides an actuator position control signal to the integrated actuator. The integrated actuator moves to a prescribed position in accordance with a force feel profile providing pilot variable tactile cueing and power boost to reduce both fatigue and workload.

An active human-machine interface feedback system includes a user interface, a pitch angle sensor, a roll angle sensor, a spherical motor, and a control circuit. The user interface adapted to receive user input and is configured, upon receipt of the user input, to move, about one or both of a pitch axis and a roll axis, to a user interface position. The pitch angle sensor is configured to sense the pitch angle component of the user interface position. The roll angle sensor is configured to sense the roll angle component of the user interface position. The spherical motor is coupled to the user interface and is symmetrically disposed about the origin. The control circuit determines a polar angle () of the user interface relative to the origin, determine an azimuthal angle () of the user interface relative to the origin, and supply current to the first, second, and third coils.