Cockpit control of a fixed wing aircraft

• US 10,577,082 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2017
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Baran, Michael Paul, Visinski, Nicholas Charles, Cherepinsky, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US15/599,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20180043994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 244175
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/18 using automatic pilot
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration

Abstract

A device and method for flying an aircraft is disclosed. A housing that is removably installable in a cockpit of the aircraft is installed in the cockpit. The housing includes a processor. The processor receives a flight measurement from the aircraft, determines a flight control parameter for flying the aircraft from the flight measurement, and operates a flight control device of the aircraft to implement the flight control parameter to fly the aircraft.

Claims

1. A device for flying an aircraft, comprising:

a housing that is removably installable in a cockpit of the aircraft; and

a processor supported by the housing, the processor configured to

operate a flight control device of the aircraft to control flight of the aircraft through an entire envelope of flight procedures through take-off, flight and landing.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator control unit supported by the housing, wherein the actuator control unit operates the flight control device of the aircraft.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the housing releasably secures to a support structure for a seat within the cockpit to support the actuator control unit at selected location with respect to a flight control device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the housing is securable within the cockpit to the support structure for a co pilot seat.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a computer for providing a flight plan to the processor.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a navigation system that provides at least one of a position and inertial rate of the aircraft to the processor.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an interface for receiving flight data at the processor from a flight instrument panel of the aircraft.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a flight measurement from the aircraft;

determine a flight control parameter for flying the aircraft from the flight measurement; and

operate the flight control device of the aircraft to implement the flight control parameter to fly the aircraft.

8. A method of flying an aircraft, comprising:

installing a removable housing in a cockpit of the aircraft, wherein the housing includes a processor; and

operating the processor to

control flight of the aircraft through an entire envelope of flight procedures through take-off, flight and landing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the housing further includes an actuator control unit for operating the flight control device of the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising releasably securing the housing to a support structure for a seat within the cockpit to support the actuator control unit at selected location with respect to a flight control device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising releasably securing the housing to the support structure for a co-pilot seat.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the housing further supports a computer for providing a flight plan to the processor.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the housing further supports a navigation system.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising connecting an interface for receiving flight data at the processor from an instrument panel of the aircraft to the processor.