Process and device for determining in real time the behavior of a craft, in particular of an aircraft

• US 6,745,114 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter
• Inventors: Eglin, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thu V.
• Application Number:
  US10/272,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3-5, 701/7, 701/10, 701/14, 700/28-31, 700/54, 244/194-195
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0825 using mathematical models

Abstract

A device for determining in real time the behavior of a craft may include a first device for determining, from a current linear model modeling the behavior of the craft, a vector λ illustrating an equilibrium state. A second device is connected to the first device for determining from vector λ the values at equilibrium of parameters of the linear model. A third device is connected to the second device for calculating, from at least some of the parameter values, the dynamic component of the behavior of the craft. A fourth device is connected to the first and third devices for introducing the dynamic component into the linear model so as to obtain a new current linear model and to deduce the behavior of the craft therefrom.

Claims

1. A process for determining in real time the behavior of a craft, wherein the following successive operations are carried out repetitively:

a) a vector λ

illustrating an equilibrium state is determined from a current linear model modeling the behavior of the craft;

b) the values at equilibrium of parameters of said linear model are determined from the vector λ

;

c) the dynamic component of the behavior of the craft is calculated from at least some of the parameter values; and

d) the dynamic component is introduced into said linear model to obtain a new current linear model and to deduce the behavior of said craft therefrom.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameters of thin linear model, whose values are determined in step b), are:

a state vector;

a control vector;

an observation vector;

a state matrix;

a control matrix; and

an observation matrix.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step b), the values of said parameters of the linear model are determined at least with the aid of a nonlinear model.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step b), the values of said parameters of the linear model are determined at least with the aid of at least one pre-established database.

5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein said database is established with the aid of a nonlinear model.

6. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein said database is established from measurements carried out during at least one movement of said craft.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in step b), the values of said parameters of the linear model are determined at least with the aid of relations making it possible to define said parameters directly from the vector λ

.

8. A device for determining in real time the behavior of a craft, which device comprises:

first means for determining, from a current linear model modeling the behavior of the craft, a vector λ

illustrating an equilibrium state;

second means connected to said first means, for determining, from the vector λ

, the values at equilibrium of parameters of said linear model;

third means connected to said second means, for calculating, from at least some of the parameter values, the dynamic component of the behavior of the craft; and

fourth means connected to said first and third means, for introducing the dynamic component into said linear model so as to obtain a new current linear model and to deduce the behavior of said craft therefrom.