Control system for a stopped rotor aircraft
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system, comprising:
- a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;
calculate, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis;
start a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward;
determine if the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position once the stoppable rotor has stopped; and
in the event it is determined that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position;
rotate the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation; and
begin the stopping process to stop the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor reaches a second braking start point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
While an aircraft is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with a stoppable rotor is calculated where the stoppable rotor includes a first and second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. A process to stop the stoppable rotor is started, while the aircraft is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, where the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward.
18 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to; calculate, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; start a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward; determine if the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position once the stoppable rotor has stopped; and in the event it is determined that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position; rotate the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation; and begin the stopping process to stop the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor reaches a second braking start point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to; calculate, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; and start a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward; determine if the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position before the stoppable rotor comes to a stop; and in the event it is determined that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position; rotate the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation; and begin the stopping process to stop the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor reaches a second braking start point.
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9. A method, comprising:
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calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward; determining if the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position once the stoppable rotor has stopped; and in the event it is determined that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position; rotating the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation; and beginning the stopping process to stop the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor reaches a second braking start point. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward; determining if the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position before the stoppable rotor comes to a stop; and in the event it is determined that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position; rotating the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation; and beginning the stopping process to stop the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor reaches a second braking start point.
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17. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
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calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward; determining if the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position once the stoppable rotor has stopped; and in the event it is determined that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position; rotating the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation; and beginning the stopping process to stop the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor reaches a second braking start point.
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18. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
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calculating, while an aircraft which includes a stoppable rotor is mid-flight, a braking start point associated with the stoppable rotor, wherein the stoppable rotor includes a first blade and a second blade and the stoppable rotor is configured to rotate about a substantially vertical axis; starting a process to stop the stoppable rotor, while the aircraft which includes the stoppable rotor is mid-flight, when the stoppable rotor reaches the braking start point, wherein the stoppable rotor is stopped with the first blade pointing forward and the second blade pointing backward; determining if the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position before the stoppable rotor comes to a stop; and in the event it is determined that the stoppable rotor is in an unstable position; rotating the stoppable rotor at least one more rotation in a regular direction of rotation; and beginning the stopping process to stop the stoppable rotor when the stoppable rotor reaches a second braking start point.
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Specification