IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,049,310
Granted Patent B2
US 12,049,310 · App. 18/072,112 · Granted Jul 30, 2024

Systems and methods for remote pilot control of an electric aircraft

Inventors: Nicholas Moy (South Burlington, VT); Collin Freiheit (South Burlington, VT); Joshua E. Auerbach (South Burlington, VT)
Assignee: BETA Air, LLC
B64C39/024B64C19/00B64C29/0016G05D1/0011
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,049,310
App. No.
18/072,112
Granted
Jul 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for remote pilot control of an electric aircraft in autopilot mode including a remote computing device configured to receive a user input and generate a control datum as a function of the pilot input, a flight controller configured to receive the control datum from the remote computing device, and generate a command datum as a function of the control datum and an authority status, and the remote computing device configured to receive the command datum from the flight controller, and display the command datum.

Claims (33)

1. A system for remote pilot control of an electric aircraft during autopilot, the system comprising:

a flight controller communicatively connected to a remote computing device and an electric aircraft, wherein the flight controller is configured to:

receive a control datum from a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device is communicatively connected to a pilot control;

determine an authority status of the control datum, wherein the authority status comprises a level of control from a plurality of levels of control, that a user has over the electric aircraft, wherein the plurality of levels of control comprises a full level of control and a partial level of control;

generate a command datum as a function of the control datum and the authority status; and

initiate an operation of a flight component of the electric aircraft as a function of the command datum and the authority status.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the full level of control comprises full authority over the electric aircraft.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control is located remotely from the electric aircraft.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight controller is further configured to transmit the command datum to the remote computing device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein initiating an operation of the flight component of the electric aircraft comprises commanding at least an actuator to actuate the flight component as a function of the command datum.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight controller is further configured to transmit the authority status to the remote computing device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein generating the command datum, when authority status comprises the partial level of control, comprises:

generating a flight control algorithm; and

generating the command datum as a function of the command datum and the authority status.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight controller comprises a plurality of flight controllers.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flight controllers comprises a first flight controller in a first location and a second flight controller in a second location.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control datum indicates a pilot's desire to change a heading of the electric aircraft.

11. A method for remote pilot control of an electric aircraft during autopilot, the method comprising:

receiving, by a flight controller of an electric aircraft, a control datum from a remote computing device, wherein the remote computing device is communicatively connected to a pilot control;

determining, by the flight controller, an authority status of the control datum, wherein the authority status comprises a level of control from a plurality of levels of control, that a user has over the electric aircraft, wherein the plurality of levels of control comprises a full level of control and a partial level of control;

generating, by the flight controller, a command datum as a function of the control datum and the authority status; and

initiating, by the flight controller, an operation of a flight component of the electric aircraft as a function of the command datum and the authority status.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the full level of control comprises full authority over the electric aircraft.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pilot control is located remotely from the electric aircraft.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting, by the flight controller, the command datum to the remote computing device.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein initiating an operation of the flight component of the electric aircraft comprises commanding at least an actuator to actuate the flight component as a function of the command datum.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising transmitting, by the flight controller, the authority status to the remote computing device.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising generating, by the flight controller, the command datum, when authority status comprises the partial level of control, comprising:

generating a flight control algorithm; and

generating the command datum as a function of the command datum and the authority status.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flight controller comprises a plurality of flight controllers.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of flight controllers comprises a first flight controller in a first location and a second flight controller in a second location.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control datum indicates a pilot's desire to change heading of the electric aircraft.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2024
From: MOY, NICHOLAS; FREIHEIT, COLLIN; AUERBACH, JOSHUA E.
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 067345/0363 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17701205 · Mar 22, 2022
Related Publication 20230303246A1 · Sep 28, 2023