Supervisory control system for aircraft flight management during pilot command errors or equipment malfunction

• US 6,480,765 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conrad O Gardner
• Original Assignee: Conrad O Gardner
• Inventors: Gardner, Conrad O.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/975,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/9, 701/14, 701/15, 701/25, 701/63, 244/75.R, 244/158.R, 244/189, 340/500, 340/945
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members

Abstract

A system and method for intervention control of an aircraft in the event of pilot command error whether voluntary or involuntary. Impending detection of a chaotic condition associated with a maneuvering aircraft enable early prediction and control of the aircraft where solutions based upon performance prediction are available. A further feature of the present intervention control of the aircraft enables an equipment malfunction detection signal substitution of a satisfactory equipment signal.

Claims

1. A method for intervention control of an aircraft in the event of pilot selection of ground control of the aircraft comprising the steps of:

generating a remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control; and

transferring flight control management from said aircraft to a remote ground station in response to said remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control thereby providing instant remote control by the remote ground station to avoid a potentially catastrophic incident.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said step of generating said remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control comprises closing a pilot actuated switch or a voice activated switch.

3. A system for ground control of an aircraft comprising:

a pilot actuated switch for providing a remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control of the aircraft;

a transmitter-receiver responsive to said remote control transfer signal representative of pilot selection of ground control of the aircraft; and

said transmitter-receiver providing data transfer through a data link to and from a ground station transmitter-receiver for ground station control of the aircraft.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said pilot actuated switch is driven by radio control from a pilot in command at the ground station in response to uncontrolled flight of the aircraft.