Method and apparatus for augmented pilot operations of fly-by-wire vehicles

• US 9,701,398 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas Allen Schultz
• Original Assignee: Douglas Allen Schultz
• Inventors: Schultz, Douglas Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LI, CE LI
• Application Number:
  US14/727,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20160124429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/506 overriding of personal controls; with automatic return to inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0034 by ground-control override
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A system for augmented pilot operations is provided to perform checks and balances between navigable systems and a plurality of controlling parties of a Fly-By-Wire vehicle. A ground based control system having at least one of manual controls and an autonomous piloting system, an electronic communication system including at least one of an onboard communication system, a ground based communication system, and a programmable interface for inter party communication. An on board flight control system including at least one of a primary power unit, manual flight controls, and a programmable flight management system may be provided. An onboard auxiliary navigation system including at least one of an auxiliary power control unit, a ground operated control/navigation unit, a physical barrier may prevent manual override from within the plane or cockpit, and an assignment device. A disagreement detection system may be configured to detect unauthorized use of the Fly-By-Wire vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for requesting an intervention of a fly-by-wire vehicle comprising:

sending an intervention request from onboard the fly-by-wire vehicle for an alternate controlling source;

receiving confirmation of an intent to intervene from the alternate controlling source;

processing confirmation of the intent to intervene by way of an auxiliary navigation system on board the aircraft;

switching the controlling source of the fly-by-wire vehicle by allowing the auxiliary navigation system to remove power from conventional cockpit controls by way of an interruptible power switch;

detecting a subsequent intervention request by an on-board distress switch;

allowing the auxiliary navigation system to analyze flight data and determine if it is appropriate to request intervention by a second alternate controlling source; and

when the auxiliary navigation system determines it is appropriate to request intervention by a second alternate controlling source, sending a subsequent distress signal from onboard the fly-by-wire vehicle to request a controlling intervention by the second alternate controlling source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary navigation system is configured to approve a switch to the second alternate controlling source and remove control from the initial alternate controlling source.