Compound aircraft control system and method
First Claim
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1. A compound aircraft, the compound aircraft comprising:
- a. a fuselage;
b. a rotor, said rotor being rotatably attached to said fuselage;
c. a wing, said wing being attached to said fuselage;
d. a plurality of control effectors attached to said fuselage;
e. a microprocessor operably connected to said plurality of control effectors, said microprocessor being configured to operate said control effectors;
f. a computer memory operably connected to said microprocessor;
g. a plurality of selectable overall operational objectives stored within said computer memory;
h. a selector, said selector being configured to select a one of said overall operational objectives from among said plurality of overall operational objectives, said selector being operably connected to said microprocessor;
i. a sensor, said sensor being configured to detect a condition of the compound aircraft, said sensor being operably connected to said microprocessor;
j. a plurality of combinations of trim control settings to control at least one of a roll, a pitch and a yaw of the compound aircraft, said plurality of combinations of trim control settings being selectable by said microprocessor;
k. said microprocessor being configured to receive a command, each of said plurality of trim control settings being configured to achieve said command when applied by said microprocessor, a one of said plurality of trim control settings corresponding to said selected operational objective, said microprocessor being configured to select said one of said plurality of trim control settings corresponding to said selected operational objective, said microprocessor being configured to operate said control effectors to implement said selected one of said plurality of combinations of trim control settings.
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Abstract
The Invention is a control system for a compound aircraft. A compound aircraft has features of both a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft and provides redundant control options. The control system allows an authorized person to select any of plurality of operational objectives each of which is designed to achieve any particular command.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A compound aircraft, the compound aircraft comprising:
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a. a fuselage; b. a rotor, said rotor being rotatably attached to said fuselage; c. a wing, said wing being attached to said fuselage; d. a plurality of control effectors attached to said fuselage; e. a microprocessor operably connected to said plurality of control effectors, said microprocessor being configured to operate said control effectors; f. a computer memory operably connected to said microprocessor; g. a plurality of selectable overall operational objectives stored within said computer memory; h. a selector, said selector being configured to select a one of said overall operational objectives from among said plurality of overall operational objectives, said selector being operably connected to said microprocessor; i. a sensor, said sensor being configured to detect a condition of the compound aircraft, said sensor being operably connected to said microprocessor; j. a plurality of combinations of trim control settings to control at least one of a roll, a pitch and a yaw of the compound aircraft, said plurality of combinations of trim control settings being selectable by said microprocessor; k. said microprocessor being configured to receive a command, each of said plurality of trim control settings being configured to achieve said command when applied by said microprocessor, a one of said plurality of trim control settings corresponding to said selected operational objective, said microprocessor being configured to select said one of said plurality of trim control settings corresponding to said selected operational objective, said microprocessor being configured to operate said control effectors to implement said selected one of said plurality of combinations of trim control settings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A compound aircraft, the compound aircraft comprising:
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a. a fuselage; b. a rotor, said rotor being rotatably attached to said fuselage; c. a wing, said wing being attached to said fuselage; d. a plurality of control effectors attached to said fuselage; e. a microprocessor operably connected to said plurality of control effectors; f. a sensor, said sensor being configured to detect a condition of the compound aircraft, said sensor being operably connected to said microprocessor; g. a computer memory operably connected to said microprocessor; h. said microprocessor being configured to receive a command; i. said microprocessor being configured to operate said plurality of control effectors to apply a combination of trim control settings that will achieve said command in light of said condition of the compound aircraft; j. a selector, said selector being configured to select an overall operational objectives from among a plurality of overall operational objectives, said selector being operably connected to said microprocessor; k. said combination of trim control settings being a one of a plurality of combinations of trim control settings each of which would achieve said command in light of said condition of the compound aircraft, said microprocessor being configured to apply said one combination of trim control settings that is consistent with said selected operational objective. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification