Helicopter force-feel and stability augmentation system with parallel servo-actuator
First Claim
1. A force-feel system for providing tactile feedback to a cockpit-flight-controller mechanically coupled to a control surface in a helicopter which does not require apparatus to be inserted into a break in an existing flight control system and which does not require a mechanical spring and a trim-motor, thereby reducing the weight and cost of a force-feel system and making it practical to implement a force-feel system and a stability augmentation system in light-weight helicopters, the system comprising:
- a feedback loop around a cockpit-flight-controller, the feedback loop configured to apply a force to the cockpit-flight-controller proportional to a deflection of the cockpit-flight-controller from a first position, the feedback loop including;
a position sensor configured to measure a second position of the cockpit-flight-controller;
a flight control device coupled to the position sensor, the flight control device configured to calculate the deflection and to determine the force based on a shaping function; and
a servo-actuator mechanically connected to and in parallel with a flight control system, the servo-actuator configured to apply the force to the cockpit-flight-controller and to be back-driven by the cockpit-flight-controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force-feel system is implemented by mechanically coupling a servo-actuator to and in parallel with a flight control system. The servo-actuator consists of an electric motor, a gearing device, and a clutch. A commanded cockpit-flight-controller position is achieved by pilot actuation of a trim-switch. The position of the cockpit-flight-controller is compared with the commanded position to form a first error which is processed by a shaping function to correlate the first error with a commanded force at the cockpit-flight-controller. The commanded force on the cockpit-flight-controller provides centering forces and improved control feel for the pilot. In an embodiment, the force-feel system is used as the basic element of stability augmentation system (SAS). The SAS provides a stabilization signal that is compared with the commanded position to form a second error signal. The first error is summed with the second error for processing by the shaping function.
33 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A force-feel system for providing tactile feedback to a cockpit-flight-controller mechanically coupled to a control surface in a helicopter which does not require apparatus to be inserted into a break in an existing flight control system and which does not require a mechanical spring and a trim-motor, thereby reducing the weight and cost of a force-feel system and making it practical to implement a force-feel system and a stability augmentation system in light-weight helicopters, the system comprising:
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a feedback loop around a cockpit-flight-controller, the feedback loop configured to apply a force to the cockpit-flight-controller proportional to a deflection of the cockpit-flight-controller from a first position, the feedback loop including; a position sensor configured to measure a second position of the cockpit-flight-controller; a flight control device coupled to the position sensor, the flight control device configured to calculate the deflection and to determine the force based on a shaping function; and a servo-actuator mechanically connected to and in parallel with a flight control system, the servo-actuator configured to apply the force to the cockpit-flight-controller and to be back-driven by the cockpit-flight-controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A force-feel system for providing tactile feedback to a cockpit-flight-controller mechanically coupled to a control surface in a helicopter which does not require apparatus to be inserted into a break in an existing flight control system, the system comprising:
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a feedback loop around a cockpit-flight-controller, the feedback loop configured to apply a force to the cockpit-flight-controller proportional to a deflection of the cockpit-flight-controller from a first position, the feedback loop including; a position sensor configured to measure a second position of the cockpit-flight-controller; a flight control device coupled to the position sensor, the flight control device configured to calculate the deflection and to determine the force based on a shaping function; and a servo-actuator mechanically connected to and in parallel with a flight control system, the servo-actuator configured to apply the force to the cockpit-flight-controller and to be back-driven by the cockpit-flight-controller; wherein the force-feel system does not include a mechanical spring or a trim motor.
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Specification