Split detent tactile cueing vehicle control system

• US 6,679,458 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Miller, David G., Einthoven, Pieter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tien
• Application Number:
  US10/166,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20030226937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 244/223, 244/236, 244/228, 318/685, 318/696, 318/628
• US Class Current: 244/223
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/10 comprising warning devices

Abstract

A split detent tactile cueing vehicle control system (10) for a vehicle (11) is provided including an active control inceptor system (12). The active system (12) includes a control inceptor (22) having a plurality of positions and a position sensor (42) that generates a control inceptor position signal. The tactile cueing system (10) also includes a plurality of vehicle performance sensors that generate a plurality of vehicle performance signals. A flight controller (20) is electrically coupled to the position sensor (42) and the plurality of vehicle performance sensors, and generates a control inceptor actuation signal by applying a tactile cueing model having a split detent and in response to the position signal and the plurality of vehicle performance signals. A method of performing the same is also provided.

Claims

1. A split detent tactile cueing vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising:

an active control inceptor system comprising;

a control inceptor having a plurality of positions; and

a position sensor coupled to said control inceptor and

generating a control inceptor position signal;

a plurality of vehicle performance sensors generating a plurality of vehicle performance signals; and

a flight controller electrically coupled to said position sensor and said plurality of performance sensors, and generating a control inceptor actuation signal by applying a tactile cueing model comprising a split detent and in response to said control inceptor position signal and said plurality of vehicle performance signals.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said split detent comprises:

a first portion corresponding to a first control inceptor representation and a first vehicle state; and

a second portion corresponding to a second control inceptor representation and a second vehicle state.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said flight controller in generating a control inceptor actuation signal tactile cues a vehicle operator of a plurality of control inceptor positions corresponding to a plurality of vehicle states.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of vehicle performance sensors comprise a vehicle velocity sensor and a vehicle acceleration sensor.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said flight controller in generating a control inceptor actuation signal applies a tactile cueing model comprising a plurality of control inceptor representations.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said flight controller in generating a control inceptor actuation signal determines whether to operate the vehicle in a mode that is selected from at least one of constant velocity mode, a constant position mode, and a normal operating mode.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein said flight controller in operating the vehicle in a constant velocity mode continuously monitors said position sensor and said plurality of performance sensors and generates said control inceptor actuation signal in response to said control inceptor position signal and said plurality of vehicle performance signals to maintain propulsion of the vehicle at a constant velocity.

8. A system as in claim 6 wherein said flight controller in operating the vehicle in a constant position mode continuously monitors said position sensor and said plurality of vehicle performance sensors and generates said control inceptor actuation signal in response to said control inceptor position signal and said plurality of vehicle performance signals to maintain the vehicle at a constant position.

9. A system as in claim 6 wherein said flight controller operates the vehicle in said constant velocity mode when said control inceptor position signal is above a predetermined position level for a predetermined duration of time.

10. A system as in claim 6 wherein said flight controller operates the vehicle in said constant position mode when said control inceptor position signal is within a predetermined position range for a predetermined duration of time.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said flight controller in generating said tactile control inceptor actuation signal incorporates at least one latch in said tactile cueing model.

12. A system as in claim 1 wherein said flight controller in generating a control inceptor actuation signal maintains a current vehicle state.

13. A system as in claim 12 wherein said flight controller maintains a current vehicle state in response to an external vehicle signal.

14. A split detent tactile cueing vehicle control system for a vehicle comprising:

an active control inceptor system comprising;

a control inceptor having a plurality of positions; and

a position sensor coupled to said control inceptor and

generating a control inceptor position signal;

a velocity sensor generating a vehicle velocity signal;

an acceleration sensor generating a vehicle acceleration signal; and

a flight controller electrically coupled to said position sensor, said velocity sensor, and said acceleration sensor, and generating a control inceptor actuation signal by applying a tactile cueing model comprising a split detent and in response to said control inceptor position signal, said vehicle velocity signal, and said vehicle acceleration signal;

said tactile cueing model comprising a plurality of tactile control inceptor representations selected from at least one of a spring constant, a ratchet, a lock, a detent, a latch, and a split detent.

15. A method of tactile cueing within a split detent tactile cueing vehicle control system of a vehicle comprising;

generating a control inceptor position signal;

generating a plurality of vehicle performance signals; and

generating a control inceptor actuation signal by applying a tactile cueing model comprising a split detent and in response to said control inceptor position signal and said plurality of vehicle performance signals.

16. A method as in claim 15 wherein applying a tactile cueing model comprising a split detent comprises applying a split detent comprising:

a first portion corresponding to a first control inceptor representation and a first vehicle state; and

a second portion corresponding to a second control inceptor representation and a second vehicle state.

17. A method as in claim 15 wherein in generating a control inceptor actuation signal by applying a tactile cueing model comprises a plurality of active control inceptor representations.

18. A method as in claim 15 wherein in generating a tactile control inceptor actuation signal comprises determining whether to operate the vehicle in a mode that is selected from at least one of a constant velocity mode, a constant position mode, and a normal operating mode.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein determining whether to operate the vehicle in said constant velocity mode comprises operating in said constant velocity mode until said control inceptor position signal is above a predetermined position level for a predetermined duration of time.

20. A method as in claim 18 wherein determining whether to operate the vehicle in said constant position mode comprises operating in said constant position mode when said control inceptor position signal is within a predetermined position range for a predetermined duration of time.