IP Library Granted Patent US 12,332,661
Granted Patent B2
US 12,332,661 · App. 18/144,659 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Apparatus for guiding a transition between flight modes of an electric aircraft

Inventors: Thomas Henck (South Burlington, VT); Richard Donnelly (South Burlington, VT)
Assignee: BETA AIR LLC
G05D1/102B64D27/30G08G5/50G08G5/55
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,332,661
App. No.
18/144,659
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for guiding a transition between flight modes of an electric aircraft is illustrated. The apparatus comprises at least a sensor configured to detect a movement datum of the electric aircraft and a flight controller communicatively connected to the at least sensor, wherein the flight controller is configured to receive the movement datum from the at least a sensor, determine a current flight mode of the electric aircraft as a function of the movement datum, generate a guidance datum as a function of a change in flight mode and the movement datum, communicate the movement datum and the guidance datum to a pilot indicator in communication with the flight controller, and display the movement datum and the guidance datum using the pilot indicator.

Claims (36)

1. An apparatus for guiding a transition between flight modes of an electric aircraft, wherein the apparatus comprises:

at least a sensor configured to detect a movement datum of an electric aircraft;

a flight controller communicatively connected to the at least sensor, wherein the flight controller is configured to:

receive the movement datum from the at least a sensor;

determine a current flight mode of the electric aircraft as a function of the movement datum;

generate a guidance datum as a function of a change in flight mode and the movement datum, wherein the generation of the guidance datum comprises an aircraft speed determination;

communicate the movement datum and the guidance datum to a pilot indicator in communication with the flight controller; and

display the movement datum and the guidance datum using the pilot indicator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a flight mode comprises a fixed wing flight and a rotor-based flight.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guidance datum comprises an adjustment suggestion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guidance datum comprises an indication that the pilot is operating the electric aircraft in a correct manner to transition between flight modes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guidance datum comprises a pilot error indication.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guidance datum comprises at least two threshold indicators and a bar indicator hovered on a bar.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the bar indicator comprises a digital indicator value.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guidance datum comprises a pilot error correction datum.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein displaying the movement datum and the guidance datum comprises:

displaying the guidance datum using a guidance datum indicator;

and displaying the movement datum using a movement datum indicator.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the guidance datum indicator comprises a color coding.

11. A method for guiding a transition between flight modes of an electric aircraft, wherein the method is performed by an apparatus and comprises:

configuring at least a sensor to detect a movement datum of the electric aircraft; communicatively connecting a flight controller to the at least sensor;

receiving, at the flight controller, the movement datum from the at least a sensor; determining, at the flight controller, a current flight mode of the electric aircraft as a function of the movement datum;

generating, at the flight controller, a guidance datum as a function of a change in flight mode and the movement datum, wherein the generation of the guidance datum comprises an aircraft speed determination;

communicating, at the flight controller, the movement datum and the guidance datum to a pilot indicator in communication with the flight controller; and

displaying, at the pilot indicator, the movement datum and the guidance datum.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a flight mode comprises a fixed wing flight and a rotor-based flight.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the guidance datum comprises an adjustment suggestion.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the guidance datum comprises an indication that the pilot is operating the electric aircraft in a correct manner to transition between flight modes.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the guidance datum comprises a pilot error indication.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the guidance datum comprises at least two threshold indicators and a bar indicator hovered on a bar.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the bar indicator comprises a digital indicator value.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the guidance datum comprises a pilot error correction datum.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein displaying the movement datum and the guidance datum comprises:

displaying the guidance datum using a guidance datum indicator;

and displaying the movement datum using a movement datum indicator.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the guidance datum indicator comprises a color coding.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2025
From: HENCK, THOMAS; DONNELLY, RICHARD
To: BETA AIR LLC
Reel/Frame 070775/0217 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 17825371 · May 26, 2022
Related Publication 20230384801A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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