A helicopter autopilot system includes an inner loop for attitude hold for the flight of the helicopter including a given level of redundancy applied to the inner loop. An outer loop is configured for providing a navigation function with respect to the flight of the helicopter including a different level of redundancy than the inner loop. An actuator provides a braking force on a linkage that serves to stabilize the flight of the helicopter during a power failure. The actuator is electromechanical and receives electrical drive signals to provide automatic flight control of the helicopter without requiring a hydraulic assistance system in the helicopter. The autopilot can operate the helicopter in a failed mode of the hydraulic assistance system. A number of flight modes are described with associated sensor inputs including rate based and true attitude modes.

A helicopter autopilot system includes an inner loop for attitude hold for the flight of the helicopter including a given level of redundancy applied to the inner loop. An outer loop is configured for providing a navigation function with respect to the flight of the helicopter including a different level of redundancy than the inner loop. An actuator provides a braking force on a linkage that serves to stabilize the flight of the helicopter during a power failure. The actuator is electromechanical and receives electrical drive signals to provide automatic flight control of the helicopter without requiring a hydraulic assistance system in the helicopter. The autopilot can operate the helicopter in a failed mode of the hydraulic assistance system. A number of flight modes are described with associated sensor inputs including rate based and true attitude modes.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for an aircraft may be shown and described. An exemplary embodiment may be an autonomous aircraft which can vertically takeoff and land (VTOL). The VTOL aircraft may have a modular pod which carries a removable payload. The entire VTOL aircraft may be portable. An exemplary embodiment may fit into a standard sized freight container. A propulsion system may be based on distributed electric propulsion. An exemplary embodiment may implement variable pitch propellers and collective pitch variation.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for an aircraft may be shown and described. An exemplary embodiment may be an autonomous aircraft which can vertically takeoff and land (VTOL). The VTOL aircraft may have a modular pod which carries a removable payload. The entire VTOL aircraft may be portable. An exemplary embodiment may fit into a standard sized freight container. A propulsion system may be based on distributed electric propulsion. An exemplary embodiment may implement variable pitch propellers and collective pitch variation.

In an embodiment, a method includes acquiring a current condition indicator of a condition indicator set associated with an operating condition of a machine, the condition indicator set indicating sensor readings associated with an operating element of the machine under the operating condition. The method also includes determining, by a data server, a relative trend significance over a trend window of the condition indicator set based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the trend window in relation to a historical window of the condition indicator set. The method also includes determining, by the data server, whether trend criteria associated with the operating element is satisfied, where the trend criteria may include criteria related to the relative trend significance. The method also includes executing, by the data server, an alerting process in response to the determining that the trend criteria is satisfied.

Provided is a system for controlling an RPM of a propeller and a rotor of a flight vehicle having multiple power units including: a collective pitch angle command generating unit generating a collective pitch angle command upon receiving a thrust control command from a pilot or an automatic controller; a disturbance factor compensating unit for generating an RPM compensation electronic speed control (ESC) command for compensating for an RPM error, and an electronic speed adjustment command generating unit generating a final ESC command upon receiving a collective command input or derived in the process of generating the collective pitch angle command by the collective pitch angle command generating unit and the RPM compensation ESC command generated by the disturbance factor compensating unit. RPMs of motors of a flight vehicle having a plurality of propellers and rotors may be maintained to be the same.

Provided is a system for controlling an RPM of a propeller and a rotor of a flight vehicle having multiple power units including: a collective pitch angle command generating unit generating a collective pitch angle command upon receiving a thrust control command from a pilot or an automatic controller; a disturbance factor compensating unit for generating an RPM compensation electronic speed control (ESC) command for compensating for an RPM error, and an electronic speed adjustment command generating unit generating a final ESC command upon receiving a collective command input or derived in the process of generating the collective pitch angle command by the collective pitch angle command generating unit and the RPM compensation ESC command generated by the disturbance factor compensating unit. RPMs of motors of a flight vehicle having a plurality of propellers and rotors may be maintained to be the same.

Tail rotor control system is described for helicopters. A pedal position sensor operable by a pilot yields greater tail rotor RPM relative to the main rotor RPM, giving the pilot increased control over the vehicle. This proves especially useful in certain situations, such as high altitude, where increasing tail rotor speed from main rotor speed can give a pilot increased maneuverability and stability.

Tail rotor control system is described for helicopters. A pedal position sensor operable by a pilot yields greater tail rotor RPM relative to the main rotor RPM, giving the pilot increased control over the vehicle. This proves especially useful in certain situations, such as high altitude, where increasing tail rotor speed from main rotor speed can give a pilot increased maneuverability and stability.

To provide an aerial vehicle that can realize ease of operation during driving. An aerial vehicle according to the present technology includes: a vehicle body extending in a front-rear direction; a saddle section provided on an upper side of the vehicle body; a grip section provided on the front side of the saddle section in the vehicle body; and a rotary wing section which is provided in the vehicle body and which generates lift and/or thrust with respect to the vehicle body; wherein an operation section for performing operations pertaining to actions relating to ascent and/or propulsion of the vehicle body is provided in the grip section.