Total energy based flight control system
First Claim
1. In a method of flight control in which a thrust command is computed based on a total aircraft energy error relative to flight path and speed control commands, and an elevator command is computed based on an energy distribution error relative to the same flight path and speed control commands, the improvement comprising:
- computing an elevator control command in response to a control column input by the pilot;
the computing including;
(a) establishing in the short term a change in flight path angle beyond the sustainable flight path angle at the trim speed for the prevailing constant thrust condition; and
(b) establishing in the long term a change in speed relative to a set reference speed, the speed change being proportional to the column control input, and a flight path angle equal to a sustainable value for the prevailing constant thrust condition and the altered speed condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method of flight control in which a thrust command is computed based on the total aircraft energy error relative to flight path and speed control commands, and an elevator command is computed based on the energy distribution error relative to the same flight path and speed control commands, an improvement is provided including an elevator control command in response to a column control input by the pilot. In the short term, the computing establishes a change in flight path angle beyond the sustainable flight path angle at the trim speed for the prevailing thrust condition. In the long term, the computing establishes a change in speed relative to a set reference speed, the speed change being proportional to the column control input. In the long term, the computing establishes a flight path angle equal to a sustainable value for the prevailing thrust condition and the altered speed condition.
93 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a method of flight control in which a thrust command is computed based on a total aircraft energy error relative to flight path and speed control commands, and an elevator command is computed based on an energy distribution error relative to the same flight path and speed control commands, the improvement comprising:
computing an elevator control command in response to a control column input by the pilot;
the computing including;(a) establishing in the short term a change in flight path angle beyond the sustainable flight path angle at the trim speed for the prevailing constant thrust condition; and (b) establishing in the long term a change in speed relative to a set reference speed, the speed change being proportional to the column control input, and a flight path angle equal to a sustainable value for the prevailing constant thrust condition and the altered speed condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a method of flight control in which a thrust command is computed based on a total aircraft energy rate error ESε
- and an elevator command is computed based on an energy distribution rate error D.sub.ε
, the improvement comprising computing an elevator control command in response to a control column input by the pilot;
the computing including;(a) computing the energy distribution rate error as a function of an acceleration error, a current flight path angle γ
, and a manual commanded flight path angle γ
C.sbsb.MAN ;
the γ
C.sbsb.MAN signal initially being in excess of the sustainable flight path angle established for the prevailing thrust condition by an amount proportional to the column input; and(b) processing the γ
C.sbsb.MAN signal so that the amount of γ
C.sbsb.MAN in excess of the sustainable flight path angle for the prevailing thrust condition and an altered speed condition is eventually eliminated, with the aircraft establishing a change in speed relative to a set reference speed, the speed change being proportional to the column input. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
- and an elevator command is computed based on an energy distribution rate error D.sub.ε
Specification