Control system for automatic circle flight
DCFirst Claim
1. A flight control system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
- means for receiving command signals representing commanded values of a location of a geospatial point and a radius about the geospatial point for defining a circular groundtrack;
means for determining a geospatial location of the aircraft and providing a location signal representing the location of the aircraft; and
a controller for commanding flight control devices on the aircraft for controlling the flight of the aircraft, the controller also being configured to receive the command signals and the location signal;
wherein the controller uses the command signals and location signal to operate the flight control devices to control the flight of the aircraft for directing the aircraft toward a tangent point of the circular groundtrack for intercepting the circular groundtrack and then generally maintaining a flight path along the circular groundtrack.
2 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A flight control system for an aircraft is configured for receiving command signals representing commanded values of a location of a geospatial point and a radius about the geospatial point for defining a circular groundtrack. A sensor determines a geospatial location of the aircraft and provides a location signal representing the location of the aircraft. A controller for commanding flight control devices on the aircraft controls the flight of the aircraft and is configured to receive the command signals and the location signal. The controller uses the command signals and location signal to operate the flight control devices to control the flight of the aircraft for directing the aircraft generally toward a tangent point of the circular groundtrack and then maintaining a flight path along the circular groundtrack.
30 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A flight control system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
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means for receiving command signals representing commanded values of a location of a geospatial point and a radius about the geospatial point for defining a circular groundtrack; means for determining a geospatial location of the aircraft and providing a location signal representing the location of the aircraft; and a controller for commanding flight control devices on the aircraft for controlling the flight of the aircraft, the controller also being configured to receive the command signals and the location signal; wherein the controller uses the command signals and location signal to operate the flight control devices to control the flight of the aircraft for directing the aircraft toward a tangent point of the circular groundtrack for intercepting the circular groundtrack and then generally maintaining a flight path along the circular groundtrack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling the flight of an aircraft, the method comprising:
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a) inputting command values into a flight controller, the values representing a geospatial location and a radius, wherein the location and radius define a commanded circular groundtrack; b) computing with the controller a distance and direction from a current location of the aircraft to a tangent point of the commanded circular groundtrack; c) operating with the controller at least one flight control device of the aircraft to direct the aircraft toward the tangent point; d) when the aircraft reaches a location within a specified range of the tangent point, operating with the controller at least one flight control device for causing an instantaneous turn rate of the aircraft that generally maintains a flight path of the aircraft along the commanded circular groundtrack. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An aircraft, comprising:
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flight control devices for controlling a flight path, velocity, and altitude of the aircraft; and a flight control system, comprising; means for receiving command signals representing commanded values of a location of a geospatial point and a radius about the geospatial point for defining a circular groundtrack; means for determining a geospatial location of the aircraft and providing a location signal representing the location of the aircraft; and a controller for commanding the flight control devices, the controller also being configured to receive the command signals and the location signal; wherein the controller uses the command signals and location signal to operate the flight control devices to control the flight of the aircraft for directing the aircraft toward a tangent point of the circular groundtrack for intercepting the circular groundtrack and then generally maintaining a flight path along the circular groundtrack. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification