Low-G alert
First Claim
1. A low-G alert for rotary wing aircraft, comprising:
- at least one accelerometer for sensing a vertical acceleration of the rotary wing aircraft;
signal processing means including a threshold detector detecting when the vertical acceleration reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold that indicates an imminent or existing low-G event; and
an output device which providesi) an indication that a low-G event is imminent or occurring, andii) audio instructions of one or more corrective maneuvers for the pilot to take specific to and only for escaping the low-G event.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A warning system alerts a helicopter pilot that a low-G condition is imminent or occurring. The low-G alert employs an accelerometer to detect a vertical acceleration of the aircraft. Higher frequency vibrations in the output of the accelerometer are removed by a filter to provide a clean signal representing vertical acceleration of the aircraft. This signal is processed by a central processing unit (CPU) to perform a threshold detector function. The CPU is configured to detect the possibility of the onset or occurrence of a low-G event. Upon detection, the CPU triggers an audible alert to announce “Low-G. Pull aft.” or the like until the low-G event has been corrected or avoided.
15 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A low-G alert for rotary wing aircraft, comprising:
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at least one accelerometer for sensing a vertical acceleration of the rotary wing aircraft; signal processing means including a threshold detector detecting when the vertical acceleration reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold that indicates an imminent or existing low-G event; and an output device which provides i) an indication that a low-G event is imminent or occurring, and ii) audio instructions of one or more corrective maneuvers for the pilot to take specific to and only for escaping the low-G event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of alerting a pilot of a rotary wing aircraft of an imminent or occurring low-G event, comprising steps of:
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sensing a vertical acceleration of the rotary wing aircraft with at least one accelerometer; detecting when the vertical acceleration reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold that indicates an imminent or occurring low-G event; and providing with an output device i) an indication that a low-G event is imminent or occurring, and ii) audio instructions of one or more corrective maneuvers for the pilot to take specific to and only for escaping the low-G event. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification