Fuzzy logic based emergency flight control with thrust vectoring

• US 6,259,976 B1
• Filed: 09/25/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lemelson Medical, Education & Research Foundation LP
• Original Assignee: Lemelson Medical, Education & Research Foundation LP
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H., Blake, Tracy D., Pedersen, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/405,570
• Time in Patent Office: 654 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/120, 701/40, 701/77, 701/98, 701/11, 701/7, 701/99, 701/100, 244/12.4, 244/12.5, 244/23.D, 244/76.R, 244/92, 244/51, 244/110.B, 244/53.R, 244/73.R, 244/223, 602/262, 602/28
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/16 actuated automatically, e.g. responsive to gust detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 15/02 the jets being propulsion jets
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/06 actuated automatically

Abstract

A fuzzy logic based emergency flight control system for an aircraft. The system has a thrust vectoring flight control system, an aerodynamic flight control system, and a fuzzy logic controller. The thrust vectoring flight control system provides thrust to the aircraft in an emergency situation alone or in combination with aerodynamic flight controls. The fuzzy logic controller executes fuzzy logic algorithms for assessing the emergency situation and controlling the aircraft thrust vectoring and aerodynamic flight control systems in the emergency situation. An adjustable nozzle is coupled to an exhaust thrust end of an engine of the aircraft and is angularly adjusted to direct thrust of the aircraft in a determined direction after fuzzy logic controller assessment of the emergency situation. Alternatively, an adjustable panel is mounted to a wing of the aircraft and positionable near an exhaust thrust end of an engine of the aircraft to direct thrust of the aircraft in a determined direction after the fuzzy logic controller assessment of the emergency situation. The fuzzy logic controller further includes a position, attitude, and heading determination system for determining position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft. The position, attitude, and heading determination system further includes global positioning system receivers mounted at extremities of the aircraft and a determination processor coupled to the global positioning receivers for calculating and assessing position, attitude, and heading of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A fuzzy logic based flight control system for a jet engine equipped aircraft, said aircraft having a jet engine exhaust thrust port, said flight control system comprising:

a thrust vectoring flight control system carried by said aircraft, and

a fuzzy logic controller, including a set of fuzzy logic algorithms, said fuzzy logic controller connected to said thrust vectoring flight control.

2. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 1 wherein said thrust vectoring flight control system further comprises:

an adjustable nozzle coupled to said exhaust thrust port of said engine of the aircraft, said adjustable nozzle is angularly adjustable to direct thrust of the aircraft in a determined direction responsive to said fuzzy logic controller.

3. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 2 further comprising an aerodynamic flight control system coupled to said fuzzy logic controller.

4. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 3 wherein said aerodynamic flight control system further comprises a control surface system for controlling control surfaces of the aircraft.

5. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 4 wherein said control surface system further comprises:

a flap control system for controlling flaps of the aircraft,

an aileron control system for controlling ailerons of the aircraft,

a stabilizer control system for controlling stabilizers of the aircraft.

6. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 3 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises a central processing unit, said central processing unit capable of executing said fuzzy logic algorithms for controlling said aircraft.

7. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 6 wherein said central processing unit further comprises:

a microprocessor for executing processing commands,

a memory device coupled to the microprocessor,

a storage device coupled to the microprocessor,

input and output ports coupled to the microprocessor for providing external communication and interface, and

a hardware system coupled to the microprocessor for implementing processing commands.

8. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 1 wherein said thrust vectoring flight control system further comprises an adjustable panel mountable to said aircraft near an exhaust thrust port wherein the adjustable panel is angularly adjusted to direct thrust of the aircraft in a determined direction responsive to said fuzzy logic controller.

9. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 1 wherein the fuzzy logic controller further comprises a position, attitude, and heading determination system.

10. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 9 wherein said position, attitude, and heading determination system further comprises:

a global positioning system receiver mounted to said aircraft, and

a determination processor coupled to said global positioning receiver, said determination processor capable of calculating and assessing position, attitude, and heading of said aircraft.

11. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 10 wherein more than one of said global positioning receivers are mounted to said aircraft with one of said global position receivers mounted to a front portion, a rear portion, a left wing portion, and a right wing portion of said aircraft.

12. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 1 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises an aircraft position monitoring system capable of determining and monitoring the area proximate said aircraft and an area outside the area proximate said aircraft.

13. The fuzzy logic based emergency flight control system according to claim 1 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises a communications system.

14. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 13 wherein said communications system is capable of broadcasting a signal.

15. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 13 wherein the communications system communicates to a ground station.

16. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 1 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises a display device.

17. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 16 wherein said display device is a two dimensional display device for displaying relative aircraft positions and aircraft identification information.

18. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 16 wherein said display device is a three dimensional display device for providing immediate sense of depth perception.

19. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 1 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises a terrain map for providing geographic information related to terrain of an area to the aircraft.

26. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 1 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises an aircraft position monitoring system capable of determining and monitoring the area proximate said aircraft and an area outside the area proximate said aircraft surrounding area of the aircraft.

20. A fuzzy logic based flight control system for a jet engine equipped aircraft, said aircraft having a jet engine exhaust thrust port, said flight control system comprising:

a thrust vectoring flight control system carried by said aircraft;

a fuzzy logic controller, including a set of fuzzy logic algorithms, said fuzzy logic controller communicating with said thrust vectoring flight control system;

an adjustable nozzle coupled to said exhaust thrust port of said engine, said adjustable nozzle angularly adjustable to direct thrust of said engine in a direction responsive to said fuzzy logic controller;

an aerodynamic flight control system coupled to said fuzzy logic controller, said aerodynamic flight control system including a control surface system.

21. The invention in accordance with claim 20 wherein said control system comprises:

a flap control system,

an aileron control system,

a stabilizer control system.

22. The invention in accordance with claim 21 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises a central processing unit comprising:

a microprocessor,

a memory device coupled to said microprocessor,

a storage device coupled to said microprocessor,

input and output ports coupled to said microprocessor, and

a hardware system coupled to said microprocessor.

23. The invention in accordance with claim 22 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises:

a position, attitude, and heading determination system comprising;

a global positioning system receiver mounted to said aircraft, and

a determination processor coupled to said global positioning system receiver, said determination processor capable of calculating and assessing position, attitude, and heading of said aircraft.

24. The invention in accordance with claim 23 wherein more than one of said global positioning receivers are mounted to said aircraft with one of said global position receivers mounted to a front portion, one to a rear portion, one to a left wing portion, and one to a right wing portion of said aircraft.

25. The invention in accordance with claim 23 wherein said determination processor system is capable of determining and monitoring the area proximate said aircraft and an area outside the area proximate said aircraft.

27. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 20 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises a communications system capable of broadcasting a signal to a ground station.

28. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 20 further comprising a three dimensional display device for providing relative air craft positions, aircraft identification information and immediate sense of depth perception.

29. The fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 20 wherein said fuzzy logic controller further comprises a terrain map containing geographic information related to terrain of an area proximate to said aircraft.

30. A fuzzy logic based flight control system for a jet engine equipped aircraft, said aircraft having a jet engine exhaust thrust port, said flight control system comprising:

a thrust vectoring flight control system carried by said aircraft;

a fuzzy logic controller, comprising;

a microprocessor,

a memory device coupled to said microprocessor,

a storage device coupled to said microprocessor,

input and output ports coupled to said microprocessor, and

a hardware system coupled to said microprocessor;

a set of fuzzy logic algorithms, and;

data input to said fuzzy logic controller comprising;

a position, attitude, and heading determination system comprising;

a plurality of global positioning system receivers mounted to said aircraft with one of said global position receivers mounted to a front portion, one to a rear portion, one to a left wing portion, and one to a right wing portion of said aircraft, and

a determination processor coupled to said global positioning system receiver, said determination processor capable of calculating and assessing position, attitude, and heading of said aircraft; and

said determination processor system capable of determining and monitoring the area proximate said aircraft and an area outside the area proximate said aircraft;

said fuzzy logic controller communicating with said thrust vectoring flight control system;

an adjustable nozzle coupled to said exhaust thrust port of said engine, said adjustable nozzle angularly adjustable to direct thrust of said engine in a direction responsive to said fuzzy logic controller;

an aerodynamic flight control system coupled to said fuzzy logic controller, said aerodynamic flight control system comprising;

a flap control system,

an aileron control system,

a stabilizer control system,

a communications system capable of broadcasting a signal to a ground station;

a three dimensional display device for providing relative air craft positions, aircraft identification information and immediate sense of depth perception;

a terrain map containing geographic information related to terrain of an area proximate to said aircraft.

31. A method of using a fuzzy logic based flight control system, capable of outputting a signal, for a jet engine equipped aircraft having a thrust vectoring flight control system, said method including the acts of:

operating a thrust vectoring flight control system to affect the flight of said aircraft;

outputting a signal from said fuzzy logic controller to said thrust vectoring flight control system;

actuating said thrust vectoring flight control system responsive to said output signal.

32. The method of using a fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 31 wherein said aircraft includes an aerodynamic flight control system, further comprising the act of outputting a signal from said fuzzy logic controller to said aerodynamic flight control system.

33. The method of using a fuzzy logic based flight control system according to claim 32 wherein the act of using an aerodynamic flight control system further comprises the act of controlling control surfaces of the aircraft.

34. A fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft comprising the acts of:

obtaining input variables related to the aircraft, including altitude of the aircraft and wind shear magnitude in proximity of the aircraft, and communicating the input variables to a fuzzy logic controller,

fuzzifying the input variables into input fuzzy sets by using the fuzzy logic controller,

obtaining fuzzied output variables from the fuzzified input variables,

using the fuzzified output varibles to calculate crisp output values for controlling the aircraft, and

executing commands based on the crisp output values wherein the commands control the aircraft.

35. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft according to claim 34 wherein the act of obtaining input variables further comprises the act of obtaining air speed of the aircraft.

36. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft in an emergency situation according to claim 35 wherein the act of obtaining input variables further comprises the act of obtaining proximity parameters of the aircraft to other aircraft and objects.

37. A fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft comprising the acts of:

obtaining input variables related to the aircraft and communicating the input variables to a fuzzy logic controller,

fuzzifying the input variables into input fuzzy sets by using the fuzzy logic controller,

obtaining fuzzied output variables from the fuzzified input variables,

using the fuzzified output varibles to calculate crisp output values for controlling the aircraft,

executing commands based on the crisp output values wherein the commands control the aircraft, and

using a thrust vectoring system coupled to the aircraft wherein the thrust vectoring system is angularly adjustable in thrust and provides thrust magnitude to the aircraft.

38. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft according to claim 37 further comprising the act of obtaining current thrust magnitude of the thrust vectoring system.

39. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft according to claim 38 further comprising the act of obtaining current thrust angle of the thrust vectoring system.

40. A fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft comprising the acts of:

obtaining input variables related to the aircraft, including altitude of the aircraft and wind shear magnitude in proximity of the aircraft, and communicating the input variables to a fuzzy logic controller,

fuzzifying the input variables into input fuzzy sets by using the fuzzy logic controller,

obtaining fuzzied output variables from the fuzzified input variables, at least some of the output variables being thrust vectoring flight control variables,

using the fuzzified output varibles to calculate crisp output values for controlling the aircraft, and

executing commands based on the crisp output values wherein the commands control the aircraft, at least some of the commands being thrust vectoring flight control commands.

41. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft according to claim 40 wherein one of the thrust vectoring flight control variables is a thrust vectoring nozzle angle variable and one of the thrust vectoring flight control commands is a thrust vectoring nozzle angle command for controlling thrust nozzle angle of a thrust vectoring flight control system in controlling the aircraft.

42. A fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft comprising the acts of:

obtaining input variables related to the aircraft and communicating the input variables to a fuzzy logic controller,

fuzzifying the input variables into input fuzzy sets by using the fuzzy logic controller,

obtaining fuzzied output variables from the fuzzified input variables, at least some of the output variables being aerodynamic flight control variables,

using the fuzzified output varibles to calculate crisp output values for controlling the aircraft, and

executing commands based on the crisp output values wherein the commands control the aircraft, at least some of the commands being aerodynamic flight control commands,

wherein one of the aerodynamic flight control variables is an engine thrust magnitude variable and one of the aerodynamic flight control commands is an engine thrust magnitude command for controlling engine thrust of at least one engine of the aircraft in controlling the aircraft in the emergency situation.

43. A fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft comprising the acts of:

obtaining input variables related to the aircraft and communicating the input variables to a fuzzy logic controller,

fuzzifying the input variables into input fuzzy sets by using the fuzzy logic controller,

obtaining fuzzied thrust vectoring flight control variables and aerodynamic flight control variables from the fuzzified input variables,

using the fuzzified output varibles to calculate crisp output values for controlling the aircraft, and

executing commands based on the crisp output values wherein the commands control the aircraft and are thrust vectoring flight control commands and aerodynamic flight control variables.

44. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft according to claim 43 further comprising the act of determining total thrust lift for the emergency situation wherein the total thrust lift is calculated from a sum of thrust from thrust vectoring flight control commands and thrust from aerodynamic flight control commands.

45. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft according to claim 44 further comprising the act of determining a ratio of thrust from thrust vectoring flight control commands to total thrust.

46. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft according to claim 44 further comprising the act of determining a ratio of thrust from aerodynamic flight control commands to total thrust.

47. The fuzzy logic method for controlling an aircraft according to claim 44 wherein the act of determining total thrust lift further comprises the act of using inference rules to determine the total thrust lift.