Abstract:
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a system and method for providing propulsion and control to an air vehicle, and for operating the vehicle, in which at least three propulsion units provide vertical thrust for vectored thrust flight, and in which at least one or two of the propulsion units also provide thrust for vectored thrust cruising or aerodynamic flight by suitably tilting the respective propulsion units for changing the thrust vector thereof. At the same time, the three or more propulsion units are operated to generate controlling moments to the air vehicle about three orthogonal axes, pitch, roll and yaw, during vectored thrust flight (hover, cruising, etc.) or during aerodynamic flight for controlling the vehicle. The control moments are generated by selectively varying the thrust generated by each of the propulsion units independently of one another, and: by selectively vectoring the thrust of one propulsion unit with respect to each of two independent tilt axes independently of one another, or by selectively vectoring the thrust of each of two propulsion units with respect to a respective tilt axis, independently of one another.
Abstract:
A control system configured to control a deceleration process of an air vehicle which comprises at least one tiltable propulsion unit, each of the at least one tiltable propulsion units is tiltable to provide a thrust whose direction is variable at least between a general vertical thrust vector direction and a general longitudinal thrust vector direction with respect to the air vehicle.
Abstract:
A control system configured to control a deceleration process of an air vehicle which comprises at least one tiltable propulsion unit, each of the at least one tiltable propulsion units is tiltable to provide a thrust whose direction is variable at least between a general vertical thrust vector direction and a general longitudinal thrust vector direction with respect to the air vehicle.
Abstract:
A control system configured to control an acceleration of an air vehicle which comprises a tiltable propulsion unit that is tiltable to provide a thrust whose direction is variable at least between a general vertical thrust vector direction and a general longitudinal thrust vector direction with respect to the air vehicle, the control system comprising: (a) an input interface for receiving information indicative of a monitored airspeed of the air vehicle; and (b) a control unit, configured to issue controlling commands to a controller of the tiltable propulsion unit for controlling the acceleration of the air vehicle.
Abstract:
A control system configured to control a deceleration process of an air vehicle which comprises at least one tiltable propulsion unit each of the at least one tiltable propulsion units is tiltable to provide a thrust whose direction is variable at least between a general vertical thrust vector direction and a general longitudinal thrust vector direction with respect to the air vehicle.
Abstract:
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a system and method for providing propulsion and control to an air vehicle, and for operating the vehicle, in which at least three propulsion units provide vertical thrust for vectored thrust flight, and in which at least one or two of the propulsion units also provide thrust for vectored thrust cruising or aerodynamic flight by suitably tilting the respective propulsion units for changing the thrust vector thereof. At the same time, the three or more propulsion units are operated to generate controlling moments to the air vehicle about three orthogonal axes, pitch, roll and yaw, during vectored thrust flight (hover, cruising, etc.) or during aerodynamic flight for controlling the vehicle. The control moments are generated by selectively varying the thrust generated by each of the propulsion units independently of one another, and: by selectively vectoring the thrust of one propulsion unit with respect to each of two independent tilt axes independently of one another, or by selectively vectoring the thrust of each of two propulsion units with respect to a respective tilt axis, independently of one another.
Abstract:
Un sistema de control (1201) configurado para controlar una aceleración de un vehículo aéreo (100) que comprende una unidad de propulsión inclinable (420) que puede inclinarse para proporcionar un empuje cuya dirección es variable al menos entre una dirección general del vector de empuje vertical y una dirección general del vector de empuje longitudinal con respecto al vehículo aéreo, comprendiendo el sistema de control: una interfaz de entrada para recibir información indicativa de una velocidad aerodinámica supervisada del vehículo aéreo; y una unidad de control (1290), configurada para emitir comandos de control a un controlador (1410) de la unidad de propulsión inclinable para controlar la aceleración del vehículo aéreo, en la que el control de la aceleración comprende: en una primera parte de la aceleración, en la que la unidad de propulsión inclinable proporciona empuje en la dirección general del vector de empuje vertical: (a) controlar la operación de la al menos una unidad de propulsión inclinable para proporcionar sustentación al vehículo aéreo, y (b) controlar una modificación de un ángulo de inclinación de la unidad de propulsión inclinable con respecto al fuselaje del vehículo aéreo, en función de: (i) la velocidad aerodinámica supervisada y (ii) un comando de velocidad aerodinámica; y después de una inclinación de la al menos una unidad de propulsión inclinable, controlar en una segunda parte de la aceleración una operación de la unidad de propulsión inclinable para proporcionar empuje en la dirección general del vector de empuje longitudinal para impulsar el vehículo aéreo, en la que la unidad de control comprende un módulo de control de cabeceo que está configurado para emitir un comando de cabeceo en función de la velocidad aerodinámica supervisada y el comando de velocidad aerodinámica y para controlar en la primera parte de la aceleración una modificación de un ángulo de cabeceo del vehículo aéreo en función del comando de cabeceo, en la que el control de la modificación del ángulo de inclinación se basa, además, en el comando de cabeceo.
Abstract:
AIR VEHICLE : According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a system and method for providing propulsion and control to an air vehicle, and for operating the vehicle, in which at least three propulsion units provide vertical thrust for vectored thrust flight, and in which at least one or two of the propulsion units also provide thrust for vectored thrust cruising or aerodynamic flight by suitably tilting the respective propulsion units for changing the thrust vector thereof. At the same time, the three or more propulsion units are operated to generate controlling moments to the air vehicle about three orthogonal axes, pitch, roll and yaw, during vectored thrust flight (hover, cruising, etc.) or during aerodynamic flight for controlling the vehicle. The control moments are generated by selectively varying the thrust generated by each of the propulsion units independently of one another, and: by selectively vectoring the thrust of one propulsion unit with respect to each of two independent tilt axes independently of one another, or by selectively vectoring the thrust of each of two propulsion units with respect to a respective tilt axis, independently of one another. Fig. 1