IP Library Granted Patent US 12,379,730
Granted Patent B2
US 12,379,730 · App. 17/478,143 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Methods and systems for flight control configured for use in an electric aircraft

Inventors: Nicholas Moy (Burlington, VT); Joshua E. Auerbach (Waterbury Center, VT)
Assignee: BETA AIR LLC
G05D1/0011B64D27/24B64D31/06G05D1/0808
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,379,730
App. No.
17/478,143
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for flight control configured for use in an electric aircraft includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and configured to detect an aircraft angle and an aircraft angle rate. The system includes a flight controller including an outer loop controller configured to receive the input datum from the sensor, receive the aircraft angle from the IMU, and generate a rate setpoint as a function of the input datum. The system includes an inner loop controller configured to receive the aircraft angle rate, receive the rate setpoint from the outer loop controller, and generate a moment datum as a function of the rate setpoint. The system includes a mixer configured to receive the moment datum, perform a torque allocation as a function of the moment datum, and generate a motor command datum as a function of the torque allocation.

Claims (52)

1. A system for flight control configured for use in an electric aircraft, the system comprising:

at least one sensor attached to at least one flight component and configured to detect signal datum from the at least one flight component;

an inertial measurement unit, the inertial measurement unit configured to:

detect at least an aircraft angle; and

detect at least an aircraft angle rate; and

a flight controller configured to generate an autonomous function, the flight controller comprising:

an outer loop controller, the outer loop controller configured to:

receive at least an input datum;

receive at least the aircraft angle from the inertial measurement unit; and

generate a rate setpoint as a function of at least the input datum;

an inner loop controller, the inner loop controller configured to:

receive at least the aircraft angle rate;

receive the rate setpoint from the outer loop controller; and

generate a moment datum as a function of the rate setpoint; and

a mixer, the mixer configured to:

receive the moment datum from the inner loop controller;

receive the signal datum from the at least one sensor;

perform a torque allocation as a function of the moment datum and the signal datum; and

generate at least a motor command datum as a function of the torque allocation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a remote device, wherein the remote device is configured to transmit the at least the input datum to the flight controller.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the remote device is one of a controller or a remote pilot control.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein, the motor command datum is provided as feedback datum to one or more of the outer loop controller or the inner loop controller.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flight controller further comprises a processor.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mixer further comprises a logic circuit.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mixer further comprises an inertia compensator.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner loop controller further comprises a lead-lag filter.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner loop controller further comprises an integrator.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor command datum is transmitted to a plurality of flight components.

11. A method of flight control configured for use in electric aircraft, the method comprising:

detecting, by at least one sensor attached to at least one flight component, signal datum;

detecting, at an inertial measurement unit, at least an aircraft angle;

detecting, at the inertial measurement unit, at least an aircraft angle rate;

receiving, at a flight controller configured to generate an autonomous function, at least an input datum;

receiving, at the flight controller, at least the aircraft angle from the inertial measurement unit;

generating, at the flight controller, a rate setpoint as a function of at least the input datum;

receiving, at the flight controller, at least the aircraft angle rate from the inertial measurement unit;

generating, at the flight controller, a moment datum as a function of the rate setpoint;

receiving, at a mixer of the flight controller, the moment datum;

receiving, at the mixer, the signal datum;

performing, at the mixer, a torque allocation as a function of the moment datum and the signal datum; and

generating, at the mixer, at least a motor command datum as a function of the torque allocation.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises transmitting, by a remote device, the at least the input datum to the flight controller.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the remote device is one of a controller or a remote pilot control.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the motor command datum is provided as feedback datum to one or more of an outer loop controller or an inner loop control.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flight controller is implemented using a processor.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mixer is implemented using an electrical logic circuit.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mixer comprises an inertia compensator.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flight controller includes an inner loop controller.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flight controller includes an outer loops controller.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the motor command datum is transmitted to a plurality of flight components.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input datum represents a desired change in a trajectory associated with the electric aircraft.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input datum represents a pilot input.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2024
From: MOY, NICHOLAS; AUERBACH, JOSHUA E.
To: BETA AIR, LLC
Reel/Frame 066898/0294 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 17218428 · Mar 31, 2021
Related Publication 20220326704A1 · Oct 13, 2022
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