Abstract:
A method comprising a first step of determining the point on the flightpath wherefrom it is theoretically no longer possible to comply with the required time constraint by following a pre-established speed profile, and a second step of computing a speed change and determining a fresh speed profile obtained by determining segment-by-segment speed corrections from said point up to the last modifiable segment. The speed change in each segment is restricted to a maximum value and the new speed is computed on the basis of the curve showing the flight time t as a function of the speed V, said curve being converged upon by a curve corresponding to the following equation having three coefficients (c1, c2, c3): V = c1 / t + c2 / t + c3 / t . Compliance with time constraints may thus be ensured while meeting the requirements of the pilot and air traffic controllers.
Abstract:
The invention pertains to the field of measurement devices for providing results other than an instantaneous value for a variable, and more particularly to an aircraft flight control assistance device comprising means (10) for detecting an instantaneous value of physical variables relating, for instance, to the aircraft propulsion system and to environmental conditions, characterized in that said device includes means (70) for displaying, at any point of a flight envelope using power and on the basis of said measured values, data representative of the difference between the power consumption of the propulsion system and a predetermined maximum power value, said means (70) having an on-board processor (80) in which a model of the flight mechanics and engines throughout the aircraft flight envelope has been input, as well as a display means (90).
Abstract:
System for generating on board of an aircraft a signal of information, warning or alarm in the case of an abnormality during take-off. According to the invention, the system comprises means (4) which calculate the position Dstop on the runway where the aircraft has to stop if the pilot decides to interrupt immediately the take-off procedure, representing the distance for stopping the aircraft during the acceleration phase of the aircraft during take-off; means (5) for comparing Dstop to the length of the runway L available in order to determine if a take-off interruption is still possible.
Abstract:
A redundant active hand controller system has first and second motors connected to a common shaft. A compensator which differentiates a motor command signal from a first proportional and integral controller, differentiates a motor command signal from a second proportional and integral controller and subtracts the first differentiated motor command signal from the second differentiated motor command signal to provide a correction signal. The correction signal is summed with the error signal into the first proportional and integral controller to correct for slight differences in the integral control function of the first and second proportional and integral controllers.
Abstract:
A navigation system for detecting the position and controlling the movement of an automatically guided vehicle (1) comprises at least one light source (4) and at least one detector (5) responsive to the light emitted from the light source (4), the vehicle (1) being accompanied by either the light source (4) or the detector (5). A signal processing unit (10) has memory means (13) in which path control information (12) corresponding to the path (3) of the vehicle is stored, and comparator means (11) adapted to compare the path control informaton (12) stored in the memory means (13) with positional information produced by the system, in order, when the path control information and the positional information differ, to emit control signals (15) for the movement of the vehicle. The detector (5) is a position-sensitive semiconductor detector having a substantially planar, extended, continuous sensing area (7) and is adapted to receive light within a restricted part (P) of the sensing area of the detector. In response to the detected light, electric signals are produced from which said positional information (9) corresponding to the actual position of the vehicle (1) in at least one direction is derived.
Abstract:
The invention relates to air navigation assistance methods and devices, used in flight management systems on board aircraft. To facilitate the work of the pilot, the onboard computer (FMS) communicates with the pilot through a display and data input console (MCDU). This console displays a list of tasks to be executed in the form of a series of selectable and activatable main zones (40). Each zone corresponds to a task to be executed through the console, and when the task has been executed (validation key actuated by the pilot), the task-list is redisplayed, the zone for which the task has been executed and validated appearing in a different colour from the other zones. The zones preferably appear in duplicate (40, 50) when there is a co-pilot and it can clearly be seen which tasks have been executed and by which pilot, and which tasks remain to be executed.
Abstract:
The absolute position of a vehicle (V) transporting articles between sites (SS) at an installation, e.g. stations of a steel works, is determined by satellite navigation signal and logged on a CPU with a database to ensure that the intended articles (SR) are processed on different sites as required.
Abstract:
A control system for an active hand controller, for example, uses a control stick connected to and controlled by a motor. Electronics are provided to control the motor to eliminate oscillations due to motor torque and high gain due to breakout at the control stick when the control stick is at about its null position. Both hardware as well as software implementations can provide position dependent dampening to the control sticks such that when the control stick is located about a null position, a higher rate of dampening is provided than when the control stick is located outside the null position, when a lower rate of dampening is provided. The system provides a stable active hand controller control stick without degraded force and feel characteristics of the system.
Abstract:
An active hand controller system is provided wherein a feedback loop detects the position of a control stick to control a motor driving the control stick to thereby provide certain force feel characteristics to the control stick. The feedback loop includes a detector for detecting force exerted for the control stick to generate a signal indicative of the force or torque being applied to the control stick. In a more specific aspect, the invention includes the use of variable reluctance transformers, preferably in a push/pull configuration to detect the forces being exerted on the control stick.
Abstract:
A helicopter engine fuel control anticipates sudden changes in engine power demand during yaw inputs to thereby minimize engine and main rotor speed droop and overspeed during yaw maneuvers. The rate (121, 123) of yaw control (107) position change generates (10) a yaw component (104) of a helicopter fuel control (52) fuel command signal (70). The magnitude of the yaw component is also dependent upon the rate of yaw control position change (703). The fuel command signal yaw component (104) is overriden (113, 115) when rotor decay rate (209, 217) has been arrested during a sharp left hover turn (216); when the yaw component is removing fuel (239) during rotor droop (238); and when the yaw component is adding fuel (228) during rotor overspeed (227).