VARIABLY MANNED AIRCRAFT

• US 20090105891A1
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wenberg, Lynne L., Whelan, David A., Jones, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/18 using automatic pilot
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a system includes a plurality of subsystems cooperatively configured to control an aircraft in accordance with a plurality of manning modes, the system configured to perform fully automated control of the aircraft while operating in any of the plurality of manning modes, wherein the plurality of manning modes include: two onboard operators; one onboard operator; and no onboard operator, wherein the system receives input from a remotely located operator by way of wireless signals.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a plurality of subsystems cooperatively configured to control an aircraft in accordance with a plurality of manning modes, the system configured to perform fully automated control of the aircraft while operating in any of the plurality of manning modes, wherein the plurality of manning modes include;

two onboard operators;

one onboard operator; and

no onboard operator, wherein the system receives input from a remotely located operator by way of wireless signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to perform fully automated takeoff, fully automated landing, and fully automated cruising flight.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to automatically:

detect an incapacitated state of an onboard operator; and

control travel of the aircraft toward a predetermined destination despite the incapacitated state of the onboard operator.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system is further configured to automatically land the aircraft at the predetermined destination despite the incapacitated state of the onboard operator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to automatically:

detect an anomalous condition during travel of the aircraft;

calculate a contingency response to the anomalous condition; and

implement the contingency response without requiring onboard operator input to the system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the contingency response includes at least one of:

landing the aircraft at a location different than a predetermined destination, communicating the anomalous condition to a remote entity by way of wireless signals, and rerouting the aircraft along a flight path different than a predetermined flight path.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of subsystems includes at least one of:

an onboard operator interface, a collision sensing subsystem, an automated navigation subsystem, a communications subsystem, a path planning subsystem, an auto flight control subsystem, an upset recovery subsystem, a vehicle health management subsystem, a flight anomaly management subsystem, an auto landing subsystem, an auto taxi subsystem, an auto throttle subsystem, an auto takeoff subsystem, and an auto braking subsystem.

8. The system of claim 7, the onboard operator interface including at least one of a wheel, a yoke, rudder pedals, a joystick, and a heads-up display.

9. A method, comprising:

controlling an aircraft in accordance with any of a plurality of manning modes, the controlling including fully automated control of the aircraft during one or more phases of travel, the plurality of manning modes including;

two onboard operators;

one onboard operator; and

no onboard operator, wherein control input is received from a remotely located operator by way of wireless signals.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more phases of travel includes at least one of:

fully automated takeoff, fully automated landing, and fully automated cruising flight.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising automatically:

detecting an incapacitated state of an onboard operator; and

controlling travel of the aircraft toward a predetermined destination despite the incapacitated state of the onboard operator.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically landing the aircraft at the predetermined destination despite the incapacitated state of the onboard operator.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising automatically:

detecting an anomalous condition during flight of the aircraft;

calculating a contingency response to the anomalous condition; and

implementing the contingency response without requiring onboard operator input to the control system of the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 13, the contingency response including at least one of:

landing the aircraft at a location different than a predetermined destination, communicating the anomalous condition to a remote entity by way of wireless signals, and rerouting the aircraft along a flight path different than a predetermined flight path.

15. A computer-readable storage media including a computer-readable code, the computer-readable code configured to cause one or more processors to:

control an aircraft in accordance with a plurality of manning modes, wherein the plurality of manning modes includes two onboard operators, one onboard operator, and no onboard operator during which the one or more processors receive input from a remotely located operator by way of wireless signals; and

perform fully automated control of the aircraft while operating in at least one of the plurality of manning modes.

16. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable code is further configured to cause the one or more processors to perform:

fully automated takeoff;

fully automated cruising flight; and

fully automated landing.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable code is further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

detect an incapacitated state of an onboard operator;

control travel of the aircraft toward a predetermined destination; and

automatically land the aircraft at the predetermined destination despite the incapacitated state of the onboard operator.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable code is further configured to cause the one or more processors to:

detect an anomalous condition during travel of the aircraft;

calculate a contingency response to the anomalous condition; and

implement the contingency response without requiring onboard operator input to the system.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 18, wherein the computer-readable code is further configured such that the contingency response includes at least one of:

landing the aircraft at a location different than a predetermined destination;

communicating the anomalous condition to a remote entity by way of wireless signals; and

rerouting the aircraft along a flight path different than a predetermined flight path.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable code is further configured to cause the one or more processors to perform at least one of:

a collision sensing and avoidance, automated navigation, communications management, path planning, upset recovery, vehicle health management, flight anomaly management, automated landing, automated taxi, automated throttle control, automated takeoff, and automated braking.