AUTOMATED CONTROL USING SIMULATED SIGNALS

• US 20170137141A1
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Noll, Christopher, Avritch, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US14/939,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20170137141A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/06 actuated automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/101 specially adapted for aircraft

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle is provided. The method includes generating a digital control signal, generating a digital simulated signal based on the control signal, the digital simulated signal simulating one of a mechanical or analog input signal, converting the digital simulated signal into an analog signal, and controlling a control device of the vehicle using the analog signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle comprising:

generating a digital control signal;

generating a digital simulated signal based on the control signal, the digital simulated signal simulating one of a mechanical or analog input signal;

converting the digital simulated signal into an analog signal; and

controlling a control device of the vehicle using the analog signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the analog signal to a FADEC.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the control device is a throttle of an aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital simulated signal comprises a first simulated signal and a second simulated signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first simulated signal is a simulated signal of a first coil of an LVDT, RVDT, or resolver and the second simulated signal is a simulated signal of a second coil of the LVDT, RVDT, or resolver.

6. A control system configured to control a control device of a vehicle, the control system comprising:

a processor configured to output a control signal; and

a simulator configured to convert the control signal to a simulated signal, the simulated signal simulating one of a mechanical or analog input signal,

wherein the simulated signal is used to control the control device of the vehicle.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the simulator comprises an integrated circuit for converting the control signal into a digital simulated signal and at least one digital-to-analog converter configured to convert digital simulated signal into an analog signal.

8. The control system of claim 6, wherein the processor and the simulator are part of a flight control computer or vehicle management system.

9. The control system of claim 6, further comprising a FADEC configured to receive the simulated signal from the simulator.

10. The control system of claim 6, wherein the control device is a throttle of an aircraft.

11. The control system of claim 6, wherein the simulated signal comprises a first simulated signal and a second simulated signal.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first simulated signal is a simulated signal of a first coil of an LVDT, RVDT, or resolver and the second simulated signal is a simulated signal of a second coil of the LVDT, RVDT, or resolver.

13. A vehicle management system comprising:

a control device configured to control a portion of a vehicle; and

a control computer comprising;

a processor configured to output a control signal related to the control device; and

a simulator configured to convert the control signal to a simulated signal, the simulated signal simulating one of a mechanical or analog input signal for the control device,

wherein the simulated signal is used to control the control device of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle management system of claim 13, further comprising a FADEC operationally connecting the control computer and the control device.

15. The vehicle management system of claim 13, wherein the simulator comprises an integrated circuit for converting the control signal into a digital simulated signal and at least one digital-to-analog converter configured to convert digital simulated signal into an analog signal.

16. The vehicle management system of claim 13, wherein the control device is a throttle of an aircraft.

17. The vehicle management system of claim 13, wherein the simulated signal comprises a first simulated signal and a second simulated signal.

18. The vehicle management system of claim 17, wherein the first simulated signal is a simulated signal of a first coil of an LVDT, RVDT, or resolver and the second simulated signal is a simulated signal of a second coil of the LVDT, RVDT, or resolver.