Apparatus and method for backup control in a distributed flight control system
First Claim
1. A flight control system for controlling an aircraft, the flight control system comprising:
- a first controller configured to receive a first input and to output a primary control signal;
a first transmission path coupled to the first controller and configured to relay the primary control signal;
a second controller configured to receive a second input and to output a backup control signal;
a second transmission path coupled to the second controller and configured to relay the backup control signal; and
an actuator having actuator electronics configured to receive the primary control signal along the first transmission path and the backup control signal along the second transmission path and configured to determine if the primary control signal is valid;
the actuator electronics located remotely from the primary controller and adjacent to the actuator and configured to output an actuator command based, at least in part, on the primary control signal if the primary control signal is valid and to output the actuator command based, at least in part, on the backup control signal if the primary control signal is not valid;
wherein the first transmission path is bi-directional; and
wherein the second transmission path is unidirectional.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to a flight control system for controlling an aircraft during flight. The flight control system may include a primary controller configured to receive an input from a pilot and to output a primary control signal and a primary transmission path connected to the primary controller and configured to relay the primary control signal. The flight control system may also include a backup controller configured to receive the input from the pilot and to output a backup control signal and a backup transmission path connected to the backup controller and configured to relay the backup control signal. Additionally, the flight control system may include an actuator having a remote electronics unit configured to receive the primary control signal and the backup control signal and to determine if the primary control signal is available and valid. The remote electronics unit may be configured to output an actuator command based on the primary control signal if the primary control signal is available and valid and to output the actuator command based on the backup control signal if the primary control signal is unavailable or invalid.
91 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A flight control system for controlling an aircraft, the flight control system comprising:
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a first controller configured to receive a first input and to output a primary control signal; a first transmission path coupled to the first controller and configured to relay the primary control signal; a second controller configured to receive a second input and to output a backup control signal; a second transmission path coupled to the second controller and configured to relay the backup control signal; and an actuator having actuator electronics configured to receive the primary control signal along the first transmission path and the backup control signal along the second transmission path and configured to determine if the primary control signal is valid; the actuator electronics located remotely from the primary controller and adjacent to the actuator and configured to output an actuator command based, at least in part, on the primary control signal if the primary control signal is valid and to output the actuator command based, at least in part, on the backup control signal if the primary control signal is not valid; wherein the first transmission path is bi-directional; and wherein the second transmission path is unidirectional. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A flight control system for controlling an aircraft, the flight control system comprising:
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a first controller configured to receive a first input and to output a primary control signal; a bi-directional transmission path coupled to the first controller and configured to relay the primary control signal; a second controller configured to receive a second input and to output a backup control signal; a unidirectional second transmission path coupled to the second controller and configured to relay the backup control signal; and an actuator having actuator electronics located remotely from the primary controller and adjacent to the actuator and configured to receive the primary control signal along the bi-directional transmission path and the backup control signal along the unidirectional transmission path and configured to determine if the primary control signal is valid; wherein the actuator electronics is configured to output an actuator command based, at least in part, on the primary control signal if the primary control signal is valid and to output the actuator command based, at least in part, on the backup control signal if the primary control signal is not valid. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A flight control system for controlling an aircraft, the flight control system comprising:
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a first controller configured to receive an input and to output a primary control signal; a bi-directional transmission path coupled to the first controller and configured to relay the primary control signal; a second controller configured to receive the input and to output a redundant control signal; a unidirectional transmission path coupled to the second controller and configured to relay the redundant control signal; and an actuator having actuator electronics located remotely from the primary controller and adjacent to the actuator and configured to receive the primary control signal along the bi-directional transmission path and the redundant control signal along the unidirectional transmission path and configured to determine if the primary control signal is valid; wherein the actuator electronics is configured to output an actuator command based, at least in part, on the primary control signal if the primary control signal is valid and to output the actuator command based, at least in part, on the backup control signal if the primary control signal is not valid. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification