Cyclic minimizer through alignment of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling an unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric aircraft having a geometric center, a center of gravity, and a direction of flight, the apparatus useful to align the horizontal component of a center of gravity vector with the horizontal component of a direction of flight vector, the center of gravity vector represented by a line from the geometric center to the center of gravity, and the direction of flight vector represented by a line from the geometric center in the direction of flight, wherein the aircraft can be rotated about its geometric center, the apparatus comprising:
- detection means for detecting the presence of misalignment between the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors, and for providing a rotation signal indicative of the desired rotation of the aircraft to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors; and
rotation means, responsive to said detection means, for providing, in the presence of said rotation signal, rotation of the unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric aircraft about its geometric center to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for controlling an unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric aircraft includes detecting the presence of misalignment between the horizontal component of the center of gravity vector and the horizontal component of the direction of flight vector and further includes rotating the aircraft to align the horizontal components of the vectors.
34 Citations
38 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling an unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric aircraft having a geometric center, a center of gravity, and a direction of flight, the apparatus useful to align the horizontal component of a center of gravity vector with the horizontal component of a direction of flight vector, the center of gravity vector represented by a line from the geometric center to the center of gravity, and the direction of flight vector represented by a line from the geometric center in the direction of flight, wherein the aircraft can be rotated about its geometric center, the apparatus comprising:
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detection means for detecting the presence of misalignment between the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors, and for providing a rotation signal indicative of the desired rotation of the aircraft to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors; and rotation means, responsive to said detection means, for providing, in the presence of said rotation signal, rotation of the unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric aircraft about its geometric center to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for controlling an unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric rotary wing aircraft having a geometric center, a center of gravity, and a direction of flight, the apparatus useful to align the horizontal component of a center of gravity vector with the horizontal component of a direction of flight vector, the center of gravity vector represented by a line from the geometric center to the center of gravity, and the direction of flight vector represented by a line from the geometric center in the direction of flight, wherein the aircraft can be rotated in its yaw axis about its geometric center, the apparatus comprising:
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detection means for detecting the presence of misalignment between the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors, and for providing a rotation signal indicative of the desired rotation of the aircraft to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors; and rotation means, responsive to said detection means, for providing, in the presence of said rotation signal, rotation of the unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric rotary wing aircraft about its geometric center to align the horizontal componets of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling an unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric aircraft having a geometric center, a center of gravity, and a direction of flight, the method useful to align the horizontal component of a center of gravity vector with the horizontal component of a direction of flight vector, the center of gravity vector represented by a line from the geometric center to the center of gravity, and the direction of flight vector represented by a line from the geometric center in the direction of flight, wherein the aircraft can be rotated about its geometric center, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the presence of misalignment between the horizontal components of the center of gravity vector and the direction of flight vector, and providing a rotation signal indicative of the desired rotation of the aircraft to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors; and rotating the unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric aircraft about its geometric center, in response to said rotation signal, to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for controlling an unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric rotary wing aircraft having a geometric center, a center of gravity, and a direction of flight, the method useful to align the horizontal component of a center of gravity vector with the horizontal component of a direction of flight vector, the center of gravity vector represented by a line from the geometric center to the center of gravity, and the direction of flight vector represented by a line from the geometric center in the direction of flight, wherein the aircraft can be rotated in its yaw axis about its geometric center, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting the presence of misalignment between the horizontal components of the center of gravity vector and the direction of flight vector and, providing a rotation signal indicative of the desired rotation of the aircraft to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors; and rotating the unmanned generally aerodynamically symmetric rotary wing aircraft about its geometric center, in response to said rotation signal, to align the horizontal components of the center of gravity and direction of flight vectors. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification