IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,803,197
Granted Patent B2
US 11,803,197 · App. 17/526,399 · Granted Oct 31, 2023

Systems and methods for controlling a flight boundary of an aircraft

Inventor: Herman Wiegman (South Burlington, VT)
Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
G05D1/106G06N20/00G08G5/003G08G5/0004G08G5/0021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,803,197
App. No.
17/526,399
Granted
Oct 31, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for controlling a flight boundary of an aircraft. The system includes a flight controller communicatively connected to the aircraft. The flight controller is configured to receive a plurality of flight data linked with the aircraft, determine a flight boundary for the aircraft as a function of the plurality of flight data, set an aircraft movement limit as a function of the flight boundary, receive a pilot instruction, and generate a control signal for the aircraft as a function of the aircraft movement limit and the pilot instruction. The control signal is limits the aircraft to remain within the flight boundary. A method for controlling a flight boundary of an aircraft is also provided.

Claims (41)

1. A system for controlling a flight boundary of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a pilot control configured to interface with a pilot and transmit a pilot instruction;

a flight controller, wherein the flight controller is communicatively connected to the pilot control and an aircraft, wherein the aircraft comprises a hybrid-electric aircraft, and wherein the flight controller is configured to:

receive a plurality of flight data linked with the aircraft, wherein a flight datum of the plurality of flight data comprises a flight component datum informing on the operation of a flight component, wherein the flight component comprises a propulsor component, to which are attached a plurality of radial airfoil-section blades configured at a variable angle of attack;

determine a flight boundary for the aircraft as a function of the plurality of flight data;

set an aircraft movement limit as a function of the flight boundary, wherein setting an aircraft movement limit comprises receiving instruction, which includes an aircraft identifier and a specified value of the aircraft movement limit;

receive the pilot instruction, wherein the pilot instruction comprises an instruction to set the variable angle of attack; and

generate a control signal for the aircraft as a function of the aircraft movement limit and the pilot instruction, wherein the control signal limits the aircraft to remain within the flight boundary; and

an electric propulsor communicatively connected to the flight controller and configured to:

receive the control signal; and

control operation as a function of the control signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight boundary defines a three dimensional space for a flight trajectory of the aircraft.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the flight boundary for the aircraft further comprises:

training a machine-learning process with training data correlating aircraft flight data and aircraft flight boundary data; and

generating the flight boundary for the aircraft as a function of the machine-learning process.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises a weather datum.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises a location datum.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises a flight component datum.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises an energy capacity datum.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises an aircraft identity datum.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft comprises an electric aircraft.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft comprises an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

11. A method for controlling a flight boundary of an aircraft, the method comprising:

interfacing, by a pilot control, with a pilot;

transmitting, by the pilot control, a pilot instruction;

receiving, by a flight controller communicatively connected to the pilot control and an aircraft, wherein the aircraft comprises a hybrid-electric aircraft, a plurality of flight data linked with the aircraft, wherein a flight datum of the plurality of flight data comprises a flight component datum informing on the operation of a flight component, wherein the flight component comprises a propulsor component, to which are attached a plurality of radial airfoil-section blades configured at a variable angle of attack;

determining, by the flight controller, a flight boundary for the aircraft as a function of the plurality of flight data;

setting, by the flight controller, an aircraft movement limit as a function of the flight boundary, wherein setting an aircraft movement limit comprises receiving instruction, which includes an aircraft identifier and a specified value of the aircraft movement limit;

receiving, by the flight controller, the pilot instruction, wherein the pilot instruction comprises an instruction to set the variable angle of attack; and

generating, by the flight controller, a control signal for the aircraft as a function of the aircraft movement limit and the pilot instruction, wherein the control signal limits the aircraft to remain within the flight boundary; and

receiving, using an electric propulsor communicatively connected to the flight controller, the control signal; and

controlling operation of the electric propulsor as a function of the control signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the flight boundary for the aircraft further comprises:

training a machine-learning process with training data correlating aircraft flight data and aircraft flight boundary data; and

generating the flight boundary for the aircraft as a function of the machine-learning process.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises a weather datum.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises a location datum.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises a flight component datum.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises an energy capacity datum.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of flight data comprises an aircraft identity datum.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the aircraft comprises an electric aircraft.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2021
From: WIEGMAN, HERMAN
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 058307/0347 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230152823A1 · May 18, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,399,507