IP Library Granted Patent US 12,315,375
Granted Patent B2
US 12,315,375 · App. 18/383,155 · Granted May 27, 2025

System and method for pilot assistance in an electric aircraft

Inventor: Collin Freiheit (Burlington, VT)
Assignee: Beta Air LLC
G08G5/0069B64C29/00B64D45/00B64U10/20B64U20/73G06N3/08G08G5/0065B64U30/10B64U50/19B64U2201/10B64U2201/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,315,375
App. No.
18/383,155
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for pilot assistance in an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The system generally includes a pilot control and a flight controller. The pilot control is attached to the eVTOL aircraft. The pilot control is configured to transmit an input relating to the flight path of the aircraft. The flight controller is communicatively connected to the pilot control. The flight controller is configured to receive the input relating to the flight path, generate an output of a recommended flight maneuver as a function of the input, and display the recommended flight maneuver.

Claims (34)

1. A system for pilot assistance in an aircraft, the system comprising:

a pilot control attached to the aircraft, wherein the pilot control is configured to be operated by a command and configured transmit an input to a flight controller; and

the flight controller communicatively connected to the pilot control, wherein the flight controller is configured to:

receive the input from the pilot control;

generate an output of a recommended maneuver as a function of the input; and

control at least one control surface of the aircraft as a function of the output of the recommended maneuver, wherein at least one control surface is configured to perform maneuvers while flying or on ground.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight controller is configured to identify a geographic location.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the flight controller is configured to generate the output of the recommended maneuver as a function of the input from the pilot control and the geographic location.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein generating the output further comprises:

selecting a trained algorithm as a function of the input from a user and the aircraft, wherein the input from the user is correlated to an element of maneuver data; and

generating, using the trained algorithm, an output based on the input from a user.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the trained algorithm is a machine-learning model including a neural network machine-learning model.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control is configured to receive a command in a form of a voice command.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control is configured to receive a command from an autopilot.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control is configured to receive a command as a function of a visual cue.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pilot control is configured to receive a command from a simulator device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight controller is further configured transmit the output of the recommended maneuver to a remote device.

11. A method for pilot assist of an electric aircraft, the method comprising:

communicatively connecting a flight controller to a pilot control;

transmitting, at the pilot control operated by a command, an input to the flight controller;

receiving, at the flight controller, input from the pilot control;

generating, at the flight controller, an output of a recommended maneuver as a function of the input; and

controlling at least one control surface of the electric aircraft as a function of the output of the recommended maneuver, wherein the at least one control surface is configured to perform maneuvers while flying or on ground.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flight controller is configured to identify a geographic location.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the generating the output includes generating the output as a function of the input and the geographic location.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

selecting a training set as a function of the input and the electric aircraft, wherein the input is correlated to an element of maneuver data; and

wherein generating an output further includes generating, using an algorithm, an output based on the input and the selected training set.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the algorithm includes a machine-learning model including a neural network machine-learning model.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pilot control is configured to receive a command in a form of a voice command.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pilot control is configured to receive a command from an autopilot.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pilot control is configured to receive a command as a function of a visual cue.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pilot control is configured to receive a command from a simulator device.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting the output of the recommended maneuver to a remote device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2024
From: FREIHEIT, COLLIN
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 066899/0970 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17843749 · Jun 17, 2022
Continuation 17406204 · Aug 19, 2021
Related Publication 20240054904A1 · Feb 15, 2024
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