Adaptive autopilot
First Claim
1. A control system for the reentry phase of a reentry type vehicle, the vehicle having aerodynamic control surfaces for controlling the attitude of the vehicle during the reentry phase, comprising:
- estimating means for estimating dynamic aerodynamic operational parameters of the vehicle in response to status parameters of the vehicle and to an actuator indication signal;
sensing means coupled to the vehicle and to the estimating means, the sensing means for supplying the status parameters to the estimating means;
autopilot means coupled to the estimating means, the autopilot means for generating a drive command signal in response to the dynamic aerodynamic operational parameters; and
actuator means having a response characteristic ω
a and coupled to the autopilot means, the actuator means for controlling the aerodynamic control surfaces in response to the drive command signal and for generating the actuator control signal indicative of the orientation of the aerodynamic control surfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for the reentry phase of a reentry type vehicle with the vehicle having aerodynamic control surfaces for controlling the attitude of the vehicle during reentry includes an estimating device, such as an extended Kalman filter, for estimating dynamic aerodynamic operational parameters of the vehicle in response to status parameters of the vehicle, a sensing device for supplying the status parameters, an autopilot device for generating a drive command signal in response to the dynamic aerodynamic operaational parameters and an actuator device, which may include an electric motor or smaller hydraulic one than prior systems, for controlling the aerodynamics control surfaces in response to the drive command signal. Computation necessary for estinmating is used to determine a more accurate drive command signal than is typically available from prior systems, thereby permitting a smaller, lighter weight actuator to be used. If the operating characteristics of the vehicle over the entire flight regime are known, then the status parameters may be used to select the appropriate operating characteristics, which have been previously stored, without need to resort to estimation.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A control system for the reentry phase of a reentry type vehicle, the vehicle having aerodynamic control surfaces for controlling the attitude of the vehicle during the reentry phase, comprising:
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estimating means for estimating dynamic aerodynamic operational parameters of the vehicle in response to status parameters of the vehicle and to an actuator indication signal; sensing means coupled to the vehicle and to the estimating means, the sensing means for supplying the status parameters to the estimating means; autopilot means coupled to the estimating means, the autopilot means for generating a drive command signal in response to the dynamic aerodynamic operational parameters; and actuator means having a response characteristic ω
a and coupled to the autopilot means, the actuator means for controlling the aerodynamic control surfaces in response to the drive command signal and for generating the actuator control signal indicative of the orientation of the aerodynamic control surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling the reentry phase of a reentry type vehicle, the vehicle having aerodynamic control surfaces for controlling the attitude of the vehicle during the reentry phase, comprising:
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obtaining predetermined operating status parameters of the vehicle; controlling the orientation of the aerodynamic control surface in a first mode in response to the predetermined operating status parameters when the natural frequency ω
SP of the vehicle is less than a first predetermined value;controlling the orientation or the aerodynamic control surfaces in a second mode in response to the predetermined operating status parameters when the natural frequency ω
SP of the vehicle is greater than a second predetermined value; andcontrolling the orientation of the aerodynamic control surfaces in a third mode in response to the predetermined operating status parameters when the natural frequency ω
SP of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value, or equal to or less than the second predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling the reentry phase of a reentry type vehicle, the vehicle having aerodynamic control surfaces for controlling the attitude of the vehicle during the reentry phase, comprising:
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obtaining operating status parameters of the vehicle; estimating dynamic aerodynamic operational parameters, including natural frequency (ω
SP), of the vehicle, in response to the status parameters, including the orientation of the aeordynamic control surfaces, of the vehicle; andcontrolling the orientation of the aerodynamic control surfaces in response to the dynamic aerodynamic operation parameters wherein the step of controlling includes; controlling in a first mode when the natural frequency ω
SP of the vehicle is less than a first predetermined value;controlling in a second mode when the natural frequency ω
SP of the vehicle is greater than a second predetermined value; andcontrolling in a third mode when the natural frequency ω
SP of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value, or equal to or less than the second predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification