Supervisory control system for aircraft flight management during pilot command errors or equipment malfunction

• US 20020029099A1
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conrad O Gardner
• Original Assignee: Conrad O Gardner
• Inventors: Gardner, Conrad O.
• Granted Patent: US 6,480,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members

Abstract

A system and method for intervention control of an aircraft in the event of pilot command error whether voluntary or involuntary. Impending detection of a chaotic condition associated with a maneuvering aircraft enable early prediction and control of the aircraft where solutions based upon performance prediction are available. A further feature of the present intervention control of the aircraft enables an equipment malfunction detection signal substitution of a satisfactory equipment signal.

Claims

1. A method for intervention control of an aircraft in the event of a pilot command error whether voluntary or involuntary comprising the steps of:

generating an alert signal representative of a pilot command error; and

transferring flight control management from said aircraft to a remote ground station in response to said alert signal representative of a pilot command error thereby providing instant remote control by the remote ground station to avoid a potentially catastrophic incident.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said step of generating said remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control comprises closing a pilot actuated switch or a voice activated switch.

2. A method for controlling an aircraft under maneuvering conditions in emergency situations including loss of a functioning control surface comprising the steps of:

acquiring flight performance data from an aircraft in flight at altitudes above glide slope capture during a maneuvering condition; and

utilizing non-linear aerodynamics to process the flight performance data for providing aircraft control.

3. A method for intervention control of an aircraft in the event of pilot selection of ground control of the aircraft comprising the steps of:

generating a remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control; and

transferring flight control management from said aircraft to a remote ground station in response to said remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control thereby providing instant remote control by the remote ground station to avoid a potentially catastrophic incident.

5. In combination in an aircraft:

a pilot actuated switch for providing a remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control of the aircraft;

a transmitter-receiver responsive to said remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control of the aircraft; and

said transmitter-receiver providing data transfer through a data link to and from a ground station transmitter-receiver for ground station control of the aircraft.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein said pilot actuated switch is driven by radio control from a pilot in command at the ground station in response to uncontrolled flight of the aircraft.