IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,281,237
Granted Patent B1
US 11,281,237 · App. 17/323,637 · Granted Mar 22, 2022

System and method for distributed control of an aircraft

Inventors: Andrew Giroux (Georgia, VT); Timothy Gerard Richter (Wynantskill, NY); Nicholas Moy (Burlington, VT)
Assignee: BETA AIR, LLC
G05D1/101B64C13/02B64C13/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,281,237
App. No.
17/323,637
Granted
Mar 22, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system for distributed control of an aircraft. The system includes a plurality of flight components, an aircraft control located within the aircraft, and an aircraft component attached to a flight component of the plurality of flight components. The aircraft component is configured to receive, from a command sensor attached to the aircraft control, an aircraft command, obtain, from an attitude sensor, an aircraft orientation, and command the flight component to produce a response command.

Claims (51)

1. A system for distributed control of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a plurality of flight components;

an aircraft control located within the aircraft; and

an aircraft component attached to a flight component of the plurality of flight components, wherein the aircraft component is configured to:

receive, from a command sensor attached to the aircraft control, an aircraft command;

obtain, from an attitude sensor, an aircraft orientation; and

command the flight component to produce a response command, wherein producing the response command further comprises:

determining at least an aircraft response; and

producing the response command as a function of the aircraft response, wherein determining at least an aircraft response further comprises:

simulating an aircraft command adjustment as a function of a control algorithm; and

determining the aircraft response using the aircraft command adjustment.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft component is further configured to:

receive an alternate signal from an alternate aircraft component; and

command the flight component as a function of the alternate signal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft control is configured to translate a desired command.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the desired command includes a desired torque for the flight component of the plurality of flight components.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flight components includes a propulsor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the propulsor includes a puller component.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the propulsor includes a pusher component.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the command sensor is configured to:

detect an aircraft command, wherein the aircraft command includes a desired output of the flight component of the plurality of flight components; and

transmit the aircraft command to the aircraft component.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein transmitting the aircraft command further comprises converting the aircraft command to a digital electrical signal.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the attitude sensor is configured to:

detect an aircraft orientation, wherein the aircraft orientation includes an aircraft attitude; and

transmit the aircraft orientation to the aircraft component.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aircraft component includes a microprocessor.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the response command includes an actuator command.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the response command includes a thrust command.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control algorithm is configured to:

receive a segmented control algorithm;

determine a segmentation boundary as a function of the segmented control algorithm; and

create an optimized signal communication as a function of the segmentation boundary.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein creating the optimized signal communication further comprises separating a plurality of signal codes across a communication network.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the communication network includes a master bus controller configured to synchronize timing of the plurality of signal codes.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein simulating the aircraft command adjustment further comprises detecting a failure event and simulating the aircraft command adjustment as a function of the failure event.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the at least an aircraft response further comprises:

receiving, from the command sensor attached to the aircraft control, a first aircraft command;

obtaining, from a related flight component of the plurality of flight components, an adjustment impact; and

determining the at least an aircraft response as a function of the first aircraft command and the adjustment impact.

19. A system for distributed control of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a plurality of flight components;

an aircraft control located within the aircraft; and

an aircraft component attached to a flight component of the plurality of flight components, wherein the aircraft component is configured to:

receive, from a command sensor attached to the aircraft control, an aircraft command;

obtain, from an attitude sensor, an aircraft orientation; and

command the flight component to produce a response command, wherein producing the response command further comprises:

determining at least an aircraft response; and

producing the response command as a function of the aircraft response, wherein determining at least an aircraft response further comprises:

simulating an aircraft command adjustment as a function of a control algorithm; and

determining the aircraft response using the aircraft command adjustment.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2021
From: GIROUX, ANDREW; RICHTER, TIMOTHY GERARD; MOY, NICHOLAS
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 058435/0764 →
Cited By (2)
US 12,228,946 US 12,337,961