Active pilot inceptor with self warm-up
An active pilot inceptor system includes a pilot inceptor, a multi-phase motor, and a motor control. The pilot inceptor is configured to receive user input and is operable, in response to the user input, to move to a control position. The multi-phase motor is coupled to the pilot inceptor to selectively supply haptic feedback thereto. The motor control is operable to selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that causes the multi-phase motor to generate torque and supply the haptic feedback to the inceptor, and to selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque.
1. An active pilot inceptor system, comprising:
a pilot inceptor configured to receive user input and operable, in response to the user input, to move to a control position;
a multi-phase motor coupled to the pilot inceptor to selectively supply haptic feedback thereto; and
a motor control operable to (i) selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that causes the multi-phase motor to generate torque and supply the haptic feedback to the inceptor and (ii) selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque,
wherein the motor control, when energizing the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque, limits current flow to the multi-phase motor.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor operable to sense a temperature that is at least representative of a temperature adjacent the multi-phase motor and to supply a temperature signal representative thereof.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the motor control is coupled to receive the temperature signal and is further operable, in response to the temperature signal, to selectively energize the multi-phase motor in the manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the motor control is further operable to automatically energize the multi-phase motor in the manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque when the temperature signal indicates that the temperature adjacent the multi-phase motor is below a predetermined temperature.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the motor control is further operable to automatically cease energizing the multi-phase motor in the manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque when the temperature signal indicates that the temperature adjacent the multi-phase motor is above a predetermined reset temperature.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more lubricated gears coupled between the pilot inceptor and the multi-phase motor, and disposed in proximity to the multi-phase motor to receive heat generated in the multi-phase motor.
7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor operable to sense a temperature that is at least representative of a temperature adjacent the one or more lubricated gears and to supply a temperature signal representative thereof.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the motor control is coupled to receive the temperature signal and is further operable, in response to the temperature signal, to selectively energize the multi-phase motor in the manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the motor control is further operable to automatically energize the multi-phase motor in the manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque when the temperature signal indicates that the temperature adjacent the one or more lubricated gears is below a predetermined temperature.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the motor control is further operable to automatically energize the multi-phase motor in the manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque when the temperature signal indicates that the temperature adjacent the one or more lubricated gears is above a predetermined reset temperature.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-phase motor is selected from the group consisting of a wye-wound brushless DC machine, a delta-wound brushless DC machine, and a brushless DC machine with independent phases.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor control, when energizing the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque, is further operable to supply an engine start inhibit signal.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor control is further adapted to receive a signal indicating that one or more propulsion engines are running and is further operable, in response thereto, to not energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque.
14. An active pilot inceptor system, comprising:
a pilot inceptor configured to receive user input and operable, in response to the user input, to move to a control position;
a multi-phase motor coupled to the pilot inceptor to selectively supply haptic feedback thereto;
a gearbox housing disposed in proximity to the multi-phase motor to receive heat generated in the multi-phase motor;
a gearbox temperature sensor operable to sense a temperature that is at least representative of temperature within the gearbox housing and to supply a temperature signal representative thereof;
one or more lubricated gears disposed within the gearbox housing and coupled between the pilot inceptor and the multi-phase motor; and
a motor control coupled to receive the temperature signal, the motor control operable to (i) selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that causes the multi-phase motor to generate torque and supply the haptic feedback to the inceptor and (ii) in response to the temperature signal, selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the motor control is operable to automatically energize the multi-phase motor in the manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque when the temperature signal indicates that the temperature within the gearbox housing is below a predetermined temperature.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the motor control is further operable to automatically energize the multi-phase motor in the manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque when the temperature signal indicates that the temperature within the gearbox housing is above a predetermined reset temperature.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the motor control, when energizing the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque, is further operable to supply an engine start inhibit signal.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the motor control is further adapted to receive a signal indicating that one or more propulsion engines are running and is further operable, in response thereto, to not energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque.
19. An active pilot inceptor system, comprising:
a pilot inceptor configured to receive user input and operable, in response to the user input, to move to a control position;
a multi-phase motor coupled to the pilot inceptor to selectively supply haptic feedback thereto; and
a motor control operable to (i) selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that causes the multi-phase motor to generate torque and supply the haptic feedback to the inceptor and (ii) selectively energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque,
wherein the motor control is further adapted to receive a signal indicating that one or more propulsion engines are running and is further operable, in response thereto, to not energize the multi-phase motor in a manner that the multi-phase motor does not generate torque.