Climb-optimized auto takeoff system

1. A climb-optimized automatic takeoff system for an aircraft comprising:

sensors disposed on the aircraft, said sensors being configured to detect aircraft flight conditions;

at least one processor disposed on said aircraft and operatively connected to said sensors, said processor automatically measuring instantaneous airplane pitch attitude;

a flight management computer that controls an aerodynamic control surface responsible for pitch control, namely an elevators of said aircraft to allow the aircraft to rotate to an optimized pitch attitude at and after the takeoff rotation speed V R while ensuring that the minimum required takeoff climb gradients γ and the geometric limitations of the aircraft are being respected;

wherein climb gradient is given by:

γ

=

T

-

D

W

-

ϕ

;

and

a flight control law which allows the said flight management computer to control the elevator according to an optimized elevator deflection, thus yielding the optimized pitch attitude at and after the takeoff rotation speed V R while ensuring that the minimum required takeoff climb gradient (γ) as well as guaranteeing that all aircraft limitations are respected, wherein the optimized pitch attitude is continually evaluated to automatically follow a variable pitch target at and after takeoff rotation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor continuously evaluates parameters measured by the sensors and using its internal control law determines, automatically, an optimized attitude (theta) target to be followed at and after the takeoff rotation, up to level flight, providing the elevator with the optimized deflection automatically without the need of pilot intervention; and

measures, calculates and acts solely based on its internal logic and is independent of pilot control input.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said processor is configured to evaluate a speed ratio increase from lift off to screen height in accordance with

dV

⁢

V

=

V

SH

-

V

LO

V

S

.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said flight management computer maximizes pitch while retaining a safe takeoff clearance margin to avoid tail strikes by scheduling takeoff pitch limit as a function of the airplane height above runway.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is configured to use its internal control law and implemented logics to derive a pitch schedule which optimizes climb gradient, thus optimizing the conversion of the excess energy into potential energy, yield a faster aircraft climb.

6. A method of an automatic hands-free aircraft takeoff comprising:

accelerating the aircraft down a runway;

during said acceleration, using at least one sensor to determine pitch angle, pitch target and rotation trigger information;

automatically, with at least one processor, performing climb-optimized takeoff calculations to provide the aircraft with capability to follow a takeoff pitch guidance at and after takeoff rotation speed V R as a function of actual takeoff gradient constrained by aircraft geometric limitations thereby intelligently varying aircraft pitch during takeoff in the transition phase from ground to air, wherein following the takeoff pitch guidance includes continually evaluating an optimized pitch attitude to automatically follow a variable pitch target at and after takeoff rotation.

7. A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions for automatic execution by at least one processor, said instructions being configured to:

automatically accelerate the aircraft down a runway;

during said acceleration, using at least one sensor to determine pitch angle, pitch target and rotation trigger information;

automatically and autonomously, with at least one processor, performing climb-optimized takeoff calculations to provide the aircraft with capability to follow a takeoff pitch guidance at and after takeoff rotation speed V R as a function of actual takeoff gradient, without pilot intervention, constrained by aircraft geometric limitations thereby intelligently varying aircraft pitch during takeoff in the transition phase from ground to air and during initial climb, wherein the climb-optimized takeoff calculations comprise continually evaluating the aircraft pitch to automatically follow a variable pitch target at and after takeoff rotation.