Aircraft having a fault tolerant distributed propulsion system
First Claim
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1. An aircraft comprising:
- a flying frame including an airframe;
a distributed propulsion system attached to the airframe, the distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies;
a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system; and
a pod assembly selectively attachable to the flying frame,wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode;
wherein, the flight control system is operable to independently control the propulsion assemblies;
wherein, the flight control system is operable to detect faults in individual propulsion assemblies and to perform corrective action responsive to detected faults at a distributed propulsion system level;
wherein, responsive to a fault detected in a first propulsion assembly, the flight control system is configured to initiate a pod assembly jettison sequence; and
wherein, responsive to the pod assembly being jettisoned, the flight control system is configured to command the distributed propulsion system to land the aircraft proximate to the pod assembly.
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Abstract
In some embodiment, an aircraft includes a flying frame having an airframe, a distributed propulsion system attached to the airframe, the distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies and a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system. The flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode. The flight control system is operable to independently control the propulsion assemblies. The flight control system is also operable to detect faults in individual propulsion assemblies and to perform corrective action responsive to detected faults at a distributed propulsion system level.
148 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aircraft comprising:
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a flying frame including an airframe; a distributed propulsion system attached to the airframe, the distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies; a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system; and a pod assembly selectively attachable to the flying frame, wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode; wherein, the flight control system is operable to independently control the propulsion assemblies; wherein, the flight control system is operable to detect faults in individual propulsion assemblies and to perform corrective action responsive to detected faults at a distributed propulsion system level; wherein, responsive to a fault detected in a first propulsion assembly, the flight control system is configured to initiate a pod assembly jettison sequence; and wherein, responsive to the pod assembly being jettisoned, the flight control system is configured to command the distributed propulsion system to land the aircraft proximate to the pod assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An aircraft comprising:
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a flying frame including an airframe; a distributed propulsion system attached to the airframe, the distributed propulsion system including a plurality of propulsion assemblies; a flight control system operably associated with the distributed propulsion system; and a pod assembly selectively attachable to the flying frame, wherein, the flying frame has a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a forward flight mode; wherein, the flight control system is operable to independently control the propulsion assemblies; wherein, the flight control system is operable to detect faults in individual propulsion assemblies and to perform corrective action responsive to detected faults at a distributed propulsion system level; wherein, responsive to a fault detected in a first propulsion assembly, the flight control system is configured to initiate a pod assembly jettison sequence; and wherein, responsive to the pod assembly being jettisoned, the flight control system is configured to command the distributed propulsion system to perform an emergency landing remote from the pod assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification