Abstract:
Closed loop control of control surfaces is described herein. One disclosed example method includes measuring a flight metric of an aircraft during flight and calculating, using a processor, a deflection of a control surface of the aircraft based on the flight metric. The disclosed example method also includes adjusting the deflection to an effective deflection level based on the calculated deflection to reduce a drag coefficient of the aircraft.
Abstract:
A variable camber system for an aircraft may include a variable camber trim unit (VCTU) positioned between an inboard device and an outboard device. The inboard device and the outboard device may be mounted to at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of a wing. The VCTU may include a speed sum gearbox having an inboard shaft coupled to the inboard device and an outboard shaft coupled to the outboard device. The VCTU may additionally include a VCTU electric motor engaged to the speed sum gearbox. The VCTU electric motor may be selectively operable in conjunction with the speed sum gearbox to rotate the outboard shaft independent of the inboard shaft in a manner causing the outboard device to be actuated independent of the inboard device.
Abstract:
A system for varying a wing camber of an aircraft wing may include a leading edge device coupled to the wing. The leading edge device may be configured to be actuated in an upward direction and a downward direction relative to a retracted position of the leading edge device.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for carrying out a symmetric deflection of the spoilers so as to reduce the lift of the aircraft during a takeoff roll thereby improving lateral and directional control on the ground.
Abstract:
An aircraft includes, but is not limited to a central fuselage body without horizontal stabilizer, at least one high-lift control surface, at least one vertical stabilizer that is arranged on the central fuselage body and at least one extendable compensation control surface. The compensation control surface may be moved independently of the high-lift control surface of the aircraft and generates a positive tail-heavy pitching moment when it is moved into the flow against the aircraft. Due to this measure, a negative pitching moment during the actuation of high-lift control surfaces may be at least partially eliminated without influencing the high lift. Rudder segments that may be moved opposite to one another on two vertical stabilizers that are arranged mirror-symmetrical referred to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft preferably are used for this purpose.
Abstract:
A roll steering method subdivides the direction of an aircraft control surface into two elements and, during a roll control operation using ailerons, steers an upper element of the control surface in the roll direction and a lower element in the opposite direction.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method and device for reducing the wake vortices of an aircraft during the approach/landing phase. Spoilers are automatically ordered to deploy when lift-augmenting aerodynamic surfaces are ordered to deploy, and are automatically ordered to retract when at least one of the following three conditions holds: the angle of incidence α of the aircraft is equal to or greater than an incidence threshold αs; the speed Vc of the aircraft is equal to or less than a speed threshold Vs; and the aircraft is instigating a go-around maneuver.
Abstract:
The movable surfaces affecting the camber of a wing are dynamically adjusted to optimize wing camber for optimum lift/drag ratios under changing conditions during a given flight phase. In a preferred embodiment, an add-on dynamic adjustment control module provides command signals for optimum positioning of trailing edge movable surfaces, i.e., inboard flaps, outboard flaps, ailerons, and flaperons, which are used in place of the predetermined positions of the standard flight control system. The dynamic adjustment control module utilizes inputs of changing aircraft conditions such as altitude, Mach number, weight, center of gravity, vertical speed and flight phase. The dynamic adjustment control module's commands for repositioning the movable surfaces of the wing are transmitted through the standard flight control system to actuators for moving the flight control surfaces.
Abstract:
An aircraft with swept back wings and spoilers inlaid into the top surface near the tips of the wings. The aircraft also includes an elevator formed in the center back portion of the aircraft, which is also aft of the spoilers. It is aft to allow an auxiliary control in the elevator signal to cancel the unwanted pitch up moment caused by the spoilers only going up and being aft of the center of gravity of the aircraft. Roll is achieved with these spoilers by the direct action of the lift dumping on one side or the other and by taking advantage of the transformation of yaw into roll by the sweep back of the wings.
Abstract:
The invention is a system for controlling an aircraft, the aircraft having a longitudinal axis, vertical and horizontal axis and right and left wings and right and left ailerons mounted on the right and left wings. In detail, the system includes a right stabilizer mounted to the right wing, the right stabilizer canted from the right wing such that the outer end thereof is down and deflectable about an axis of rotation parallel to the span axis of the stabilizer. A left stabilizer is mounted to the left wing, the left stabilizer canted from the left wing such that the outer end thereof is down and deflectable about an axis of rotation parallel to the span axis of the stabilizer. A control system is provided to simultaneously deflect the right aileron and stabilizer downward and the left aileron and stabilizer upward to turn left and to deflect the right aileron and stabilizer upward and the left aileron and stabilizer downward to turn right.