Method and apparatus for loss of control inhibitor systems

• US 20050230566A1
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: Administrator of The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: A'Harrah, Ralph C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,285,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/223
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0423 yokes or steering wheels for primary flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/044 operated by feet, e.g. pedals
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/10 comprising warning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/345 with artificial feel
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/507 with artificial feel
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce

Abstract

Active and adaptive systems and methods to prevent loss of control incidents by providing tactile feedback to a vehicle operator are disclosed. According to the present invention, an operator gives a control input to an inceptor. An inceptor sensor measures an inceptor input value of the control input. The inceptor input is used as an input to a Steady-State Inceptor Input/Effector Output Model that models the vehicle control system design. A desired effector output from the inceptor input is generated from the model. The desired effector output is compared to an actual effector output to get a distortion metric. A feedback force is generated as a function of the distortion metric. The feedback force is used as an input to a feedback force generator which generates a loss of control inhibitor system (LOCIS) force back to the inceptor. The LOCIS force is felt by the operator through the inceptor.

Claims

1. A loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

an inceptor for receiving a control input from an operator of said vehicle,

an effector for effecting a control output in response to said control input from said operator of said vehicle,

an inceptor sensor, wherein said inceptor sensor measures a value of said control input,

an effector sensor, wherein said effector sensor measures an actual effector output of said effector,

means for modeling a relationship between said control input and said control output for a predetermined range of conditions, wherein said modeling means produces an expected effector output from said control input,

means for determining a distortion metric, wherein said distortion metric comprises a difference between said expected effector output and said actual effector output, and

means for providing a feedback force to said inceptor, wherein said feedback force is a function of said distortion metric.

2. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said inceptor sensor comprises a position transducer.

3. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said effector sensor comprises a position transducer.

4. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said value of said control input comprises an inceptor position.

5. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said value of said control input comprises an inceptor rate.

6. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said actual effector output comprises an actual effector position.

7. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said actual effector output comprises an actual effector rate.

8. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle is an airplane.

9. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said inceptor is a yoke.

10. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said inceptor is a rudder pedal.

11. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle is an automobile.

12. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said inceptor is a steering wheel.

13. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said inceptor is a brake pedal.

14. The loss of control inhibitor system for a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein said effector is a brake.

15. A method of inhibiting loss of control in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a control input via an inceptor from an operator of said vehicle,

effecting a control output via an effector in response to said control input from said operator of said vehicle,

measuring a value of said control input,

measuring an actual effector output of said effector,

modeling a relationship between said control input and said control output for a predetermined range of conditions,

producing an expected effector output from said control input,

determining a distortion metric, wherein said distortion metric comprises a difference between said expected effector output and said actual effector output,

determining a feedback force as a function of said distortion metric, and

providing a feedback force to said inceptor.

16. The method of inhibiting loss of control in a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein measuring a value of said control input comprises measuring an inceptor position.

17. The method of inhibiting loss of control in a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein measuring a value of said control input comprises measuring an inceptor rate.

18. The method of inhibiting loss of control in a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein measuring an actual effector output comprises measuring an effector position.

19. The method of inhibiting loss of control in a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein measuring an actual effector output comprises measuring an effector rate.