Method and system for the automatic piloting of an aircraft on the approach to an airdrop position

• US 7,502,684 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Haas, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US11/002,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/4, 701/14, 701/11, 701/18, 701/23, 701/120, 701/301, 701/206, 244/185, 244/195, 342/36, 342/456
• US Class Current: 701/121
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/105 specially adapted for unpowered flight, e.g. glider, parachuting, forced landing parachutes per se B64D17/00

Abstract

A method of automatic piloting of an aircraft during a phase of approach to a predetermined airdrop position includes automatically applying a speed profile with decreasing speed such that the aircraft will reach the airdrop position at a predetermined theoretical arrival time with a predetermined speed, the speed profile having a plurality of constant-speed levels separated by deceleration phases. An actual arrival time is automatically determined and a difference between the theoretical and actual arrival times is calculated. If the calculated difference differs from zero, the speed profile is corrected by modifying the length lengths of time that at least two constant-speed levels are applied to the aircraft so as to cancel the difference.

Claims

1. A method of automatic piloting of an aircraft during a phase of approach to a predetermined airdrop position, at which an airdrop is to be made from said aircraft, the method comprising:

automatically applying to said aircraft, during said approach phase, a speed profile with decreasing speed, the speed profile comprising a plurality of constant-speed levels separated by deceleration phases such that the aircraft will reach said airdrop position at a predetermined theoretical arrival time with a predetermined speed;

automatically determining, during said approach phase, an actual arrival time at which the aircraft will actually reach said airdrop position, wherein a difference between said theoretical and actual arrival times is calculated and if this difference differs from zero, said speed profile is corrected by modifying lengths of time that at least two constant-speed levels are applied to the aircraft in such a way as to cancel said difference; and

automatically applying, during said approach phase, said corrected speed profile to said aircraft.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when said actual arrival time is later than said theoretical arrival time, a length of time that at least one first level exhibiting a first constant speed is applied to said aircraft is increased and a length of time that at least one second level exhibiting a second constant speed is applied to said aircraft is decreased, said first speed being greater than said second speed.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first level is increased and said second level is decreased by one and the same length of time xa which satisfies the following relation:

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when said actual arrival time is earlier than said theoretical arrival time, a length of time that at least one first level exhibiting a first constant speed is applied to said aircraft is decreased and a length of time that at least one second level exhibiting a second constant speed is applied to said aircraft is increased, said first speed being greater than said second speed.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first level is decreased and said second level is increased by one and the same length of time xb which satisfies the following relation:

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein lengths of time that more than two constant-speed levels are applied to said aircraft are modified.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of time that at least one constant-speed level is applied to said aircraft is decreased completely in such a way as to eliminate this level.

8. An aircraft, which comprises a system able to implement the method specified under claim 1.

9. A system for the automatic piloting of an aircraft so as to pilot said aircraft at least during a phase of approach to a predetermined airdrop position, at which an airdrop is to be made from said aircraft, said system comprising:

a first unit that provides a speed profile that has to allow the aircraft to reach said airdrop position at a predetermined theoretical arrival time, with a predetermined speed;

an automatic piloting device for determining orders for piloting the aircraft so that it follows said speed profile; and

an actuation unit that actuates controlled members of the aircraft, to which said piloting orders are applied,

which system moreover comprises;

a second unit that determines an actual arrival time at which the aircraft will actually reach said airdrop position; and

a third unit that corrects said speed profile, as a function of said actual arrival time and of said theoretical arrival time, the speed profile thus corrected being provided to said automatic piloting device to determine corresponding piloting orders which are applied to said actuation unit.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first unit comprises a diskette, on which is recorded said speed profile and which can be read, with the aid of a reading unit, by said automatic piloting device.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said third unit is integrated into said automatic piloting device.

12. An aircraft, which comprises a system such as that specified under claim 9.

13. A system for automatic piloting of an aircraft during a phase of approach to a predetermined airdrop position, at which an airdrop is to be made from said aircraft, said system comprising:

a section for automatically applying to the aircraft, in a course of said approach phase, a speed profile with decreasing speed comprising a plurality of constant-speed levels separated by deceleration phases, such that the aircraft reaches said airdrop position at a predetermined theoretical arrival time with a predetermined speed,

a section for automatically determining, in the course of said approach phase, an actual arrival time at which the aircraft will actually reach said airdrop position;

a section for calculating a difference between said theoretical and actual arrival times;

a section for correcting, if said difference differs from zero, said speed profile by modifying lengths of time that at least two constant-speed levels are applied to said aircraft so as to cancel said difference; and

a section for applying said speed profile thus corrected to said aircraft.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said section for automatically applying said speed profile comprises a diskette, on which is recorded said speed profile, and which can be read, with the aid of a reading unit, by said automatic piloting device.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said section for correcting is integrated into said automatic piloting device.

16. An aircraft, which comprises a system such as that specified under claim 13.