PASSIVE LOCAL WIND ESTIMATOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method in a device for navigating an aircraft, comprising:
- measuring a ground speed associated with the aircraft;
estimating an airspeed of the aircraft based on an acceleration aB of the aircraft and controlled aerodynamic forces applied to the aircraft;
estimating a wind field experienced by the aircraft based on the ground speed and the airspeed; and
navigating the aircraft based on the estimated wind field.
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Abstract
Local wind fields can be predicted if both the airspeed and the ground speed of the helicopter are known. An aircraft that uses an inertial navigation unit, autopilot and estimator allows a measure of ground speed to be known with good certainty. The embodiments herein extends this system to allow an estimate of the local wind field to be found without actively using an airspeed sensor, but instead combining the measurements of an accelerometer and a drag force model and a model of controlled aerodynamics of the aircraft to estimate the airspeed, which again can be used to estimate the local wind speed.
34 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method in a device for navigating an aircraft, comprising:
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measuring a ground speed associated with the aircraft; estimating an airspeed of the aircraft based on an acceleration aB of the aircraft and controlled aerodynamic forces applied to the aircraft; estimating a wind field experienced by the aircraft based on the ground speed and the airspeed; and navigating the aircraft based on the estimated wind field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device adjusted to navigate an aircraft, the device comprising:
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means for measuring a ground speed associated with the aircraft; means for estimating an airspeed of the aircraft based on an acceleration aB of the aircraft and controlled aerodynamic forces applied to the aircraft; means for estimating a wind field experienced by the aircraft based on the ground speed and the airspeed; and means for navigating the aircraft based on the estimated wind field. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification