AUTOMATIC TAKEOFF APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT, AUTOMATIC LANDING APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT, AUTOMATIC TAKEOFF AND LANDING APPARATUS FOR AIRCRAFT, AUTOMATIC TAKEOFF METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT, AUTOMATIC LANDING METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT AND AUTOMATIC TAKEOFF AND LANDING METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT

• US 20110121140A1
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Kono, Mitsuru, Kumamoto, Takahiro, Yamane, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/183
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/18 using automatic pilot
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0653 during a phase of take-off or landing

Abstract

An automatic takeoff apparatus for an aircraft includes: an altitude sensor; an airspeed sensor; an attitude angle sensor; a direction sensor; a takeoff command inputting section; and a control device for controlling a propulsion device and an control surface of the aircraft, wherein the control device includes: a takeoff run control section for realizing a takeoff run by controlling the propulsion device to provide a maximum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and the traveling direction constant, in response to the takeoff command; a rotation control section for controlling the control surface to rotate when the airspeed exceeds a predetermined speed; and an ascending flight control section for controlling the propulsion device and the control surface to perform an ascending flight up to a target altitude with a predetermined speed maintained, when the altitude exceeds a predetermined altitude.

Claims

1. An automatic takeoff apparatus for an aircraft comprising:

an altitude sensor for measuring an altitude of the aircraft from a ground;

an airspeed sensor for measuring an airspeed of the aircraft;

an attitude angle sensor for detecting an attitude angle of the aircraft;

a direction sensor for detecting a direction of the aircraft;

a takeoff command inputting section for inputting a takeoff command; and

a control device for controlling a propulsion device and a control surface of the aircraft based on the altitude of the aircraft from the ground, the airspeed of the aircraft, the attitude angle of the aircraft, the direction of the aircraft and the takeoff command,

wherein the control device comprises;

a takeoff run control section for realizing a takeoff run by controlling the propulsion device to provide a maximum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and a traveling direction of the aircraft constant, in response to the takeoff command;

a rotation control section for controlling the control surface to perform a rotation when the airspeed of the aircraft exceeds a predetermined takeoff judgment speed; and

an ascending flight control section for controlling the propulsion device and the control surface to make the aircraft perform an ascending flight up to a predetermined target altitude with a predetermined ascending speed maintained, when the altitude of the aircraft from the ground exceeds a predetermined takeoff judgment altitude.

2. An automatic landing apparatus for an aircraft comprising:

an altitude sensor for measuring an altitude of the aircraft from a ground;

an airspeed sensor for measuring an airspeed of the aircraft;

an attitude angle sensor for detecting an attitude angle of the aircraft;

a direction sensor for detecting a direction of the aircraft;

a position sensor for detecting a position of the aircraft;

a landing command inputting section for inputting a landing command; and

a control device for controlling a propulsion device and an control surface of the aircraft, based on the altitude of the aircraft from the ground, the airspeed of the aircraft, the attitude angle of the aircraft, the direction of the aircraft, the position of the aircraft and the landing command,

wherein the control device comprises;

an approaching flight control section for realizing an approaching flight along a predetermined approaching path by controlling the propulsion device and the control surface, in response to the landing command;

a flare control section for controlling the propulsion device to provide a minimum output and for controlling the control surface to perform a flare when the altitude of the aircraft from the ground becomes less than a predetermined landing judgment altitude; and

a landing run control section for realizing a landing run by controlling the propulsion device to maintain the minimum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and a traveling direction of the aircraft constant when the airspeed of the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined landing judgment speed.

3. An automatic takeoff and landing apparatus for an aircraft comprising:

an altitude sensor for measuring an altitude of the aircraft from a ground;

an airspeed sensor for measuring an airspeed of the aircraft;

an attitude angle sensor for detecting an attitude angle of the aircraft;

a direction sensor for detecting a direction of the aircraft;

a position sensor for detecting a position of the aircraft;

a takeoff command inputting section for inputting a takeoff command;

a landing command inputting section for inputting a landing command; and

a control device for controlling a propulsion device and an control surface of the aircraft, based on the altitude of the aircraft from the ground, the airspeed of the aircraft, the attitude angle of the aircraft, the direction of the aircraft, the position of the aircraft, the takeoff command and the landing command,

wherein the control device comprises;

a takeoff run control section for realizing a takeoff run by controlling the propulsion device to provide a maximum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and a traveling direction of the aircraft constant, in response to the takeoff command;

a rotation control section for controlling the control surface to perform a rotation when the airspeed of the aircraft exceeds a predetermined takeoff judgment speed;

an ascending flight control section for controlling the propulsion device and the control surface to make the aircraft perform an ascending flight up to a predetermined target altitude with a predetermined ascending speed maintained, when the altitude of the aircraft from the ground exceeds a predetermined takeoff judgment altitude;

an approaching flight control section for realizing an approaching flight along a predetermined approaching path by controlling the propulsion device and the control surface, in response to the landing command;

a flare control section for controlling the propulsion device to provide a minimum output and for controlling the control surface to perform a flare when the altitude of the aircraft from the ground becomes less than a predetermined landing judgment altitude; and

a landing run control section for realizing a landing run by controlling the propulsion device to maintain the minimum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and a traveling direction of the aircraft constant when the airspeed of the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined landing judgment speed.

4. An automatic takeoff method for an aircraft comprising:

obtaining information relating to an altitude of the aircraft from a ground, an airspeed of the aircraft, an attitude angle of the aircraft and a direction of the aircraft;

inputting a takeoff command; and

controlling a propulsion device and an control surface of the aircraft based on each of the obtained information and the takeoff command,

wherein the controlling includes;

realizing a takeoff run by controlling the propulsion device to provide a maximum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and a traveling direction of the aircraft constant, in response to the takeoff command;

controlling the control surface to perform a rotation when the airspeed of the aircraft exceeds a predetermined takeoff judgment speed; and

controlling the propulsion device and the control surface to make the aircraft perform an ascending flight up to a predetermined target altitude with a predetermined ascending speed maintained, when the altitude of the aircraft from the ground exceeds a predetermined takeoff judgment altitude.

5. An automatic landing method for an aircraft comprising:

obtaining information relating to an altitude of the aircraft from a ground, an airspeed of the aircraft, an attitude angle of the aircraft, a direction of the aircraft and a position of the aircraft;

inputting a landing command; and

controlling a propulsion device and an control surface of the aircraft, based on each of the obtained information and the landing command,

wherein the controlling includes;

realizing an approaching flight along a predetermined approaching path by controlling the propulsion device and the control surface, in response to the landing command;

controlling the propulsion device to provide a minimum output and controlling the control surface to perform a flare when the altitude of the aircraft from the ground becomes less than a predetermined landing judgment altitude; and

realizing a landing run by controlling the propulsion device to maintain the minimum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and a traveling direction of the aircraft constant when the airspeed of the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined landing judgment speed.

6. An automatic takeoff and landing method for an aircraft comprising:

obtaining information relating to an altitude of the aircraft from a ground, an airspeed of the aircraft, an attitude angle of the aircraft, a direction of the aircraft and a position of the aircraft;

inputting a takeoff command;

inputting a landing command; and

controlling a propulsion device and an control surface based on each of the obtained information and one of the takeoff command and the landing command,

wherein the controlling includes;

realizing a takeoff run by controlling the propulsion device to provide a maximum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and a traveling direction of the aircraft constant, in response to the takeoff command;

controlling the control surface to perform a rotation when the airspeed of the aircraft exceeds a predetermined takeoff judgment speed;

controlling the propulsion device and the control surface to make the aircraft perform an ascending flight up to a predetermined target altitude with a predetermined ascending speed maintained, when the altitude of the aircraft from the ground exceeds a predetermined takeoff judgment altitude;

realizing an approaching flight along a predetermined approaching path by controlling the propulsion device and the control surface, in response to the landing command;

controlling the propulsion device to provide a minimum output and controlling the control surface to perform a flare when the altitude of the aircraft from the ground becomes less than a predetermined landing judgment altitude; and

realizing a landing run by controlling the propulsion device to maintain the minimum output and by controlling the control surface to maintain the attitude angle and a traveling direction of the aircraft constant when the airspeed of the aircraft becomes less than a predetermined landing judgment speed.