Semiautonomous flight director

• US 6,460,810 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry Jack James
• Original Assignee: Terry Jack James
• Inventors: James, Terry Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holzen, Stephen A
• Application Number:
  US09/878,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 244/194, 244/190, 244/197, 244/183, 244/189
• US Class Current: 244/194
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 29/0025 the propellers being fixed relative to the fuselage
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like

Abstract

A device for programming industry standard autopilots by unskilled pilots. The effect of the invention is such that when the invention is employed in a flying body comprising an industry standard autopilot with a digital flight control system, the invention provides for the safe operation of any aircraft by an unskilled pilot. The device additionally affords skilled pilots a more rapid and simplified means of programming autopilots while in flight thus reducing a skilled pilot'"'"'s cockpit workload for all aircraft flight and directional steering, way points, and aircraft flight functions reducing the possibility of pilot error so as to effect safer flight operations of an aircraft by affording a skilled pilot to direct aircraft steering and function while under continuous autopilot control.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle having an automatic control system wherein the method programs a vehicle'"'"'s automatic control system while disallowing the user to input unsafe vehicle maneuvers and functions wherein the method comprises the steps of:

1. Providing a user control interface,

2. Generating an interrupt signal,

a. wherein said interrupt signal indicates control interface activity by a user,

3. Generating a status signal,

a. wherein the status signal is representative of a vehicle'"'"'s current operational condition,

4. Generating a plurality of control signals,

a. wherein the control signals are representative of a user'"'"'s desired maneuver,

5. Combining all the signals,

a. The signal combing means comprising,

i. A means to recognize the interrupt signal,

ii. A means to recognize the status signal,

iii. A means to recognize the control signals,

iv. A means to combine the interrupt signal, the status signal, and control signals,

6. Interpreting the combined signal, the interpreting of said combined signal comprises the steps of;

a. Generating a digital word,

i. said digital word is generated from the combination of the interrupt signal, the status signal and the control signals,

b. Inputting the digital word into a Function Direction Interpreter,

c. Generating a memory address pointer,

i. Said memory address pointer is generated from the Function Direction Interpreter,

7. Re-programming the running software of the vehicle'"'"'s automatic control system, the reprogramming means comprises the steps of;

a. Inputting the memory address pointer into a automatic programmer,

b. Interpreting the memory address pointer,

c. Selecting a software routine which corresponds to the memory address pointer,

i. Said software routine comprises computer code, algorithms and program routines,

d. Comparing said software routine to a vehicle'"'"'s control laws,

e. Verifying that said selected software routine is a maneuver which will not compromise the safe application of the vehicle or its cargo,

f. Verifying that the selected software routine is representative of the users desired maneuver,

g. Reprogramming the vehicle'"'"'s automatic control system in response to said selected software routine,

h. Verifying that the vehicle performed the user'"'"'s specified maneuver.