Abstract:
During operation of a flight control system in a coupled aiming mode, wherein a fire control system (55) azimuth command and elevation command provide an aircraft attitude reference, a bank angle calculation function (1077) provides a bank angle signal to place the aircraft in a roll angle which results in a substantially coordinated turn. The bank angle signal is determined primarily as a function of an aiming line of sight heading rate for small azimuth commands, and is determined primarily as a function of aircraft heading rate for large azimuth commands. Additionally, the bank angle initially comprises a component as a function of aircraft lateral acceleration for driving aircraft lateral acceleration to zero, and after the aircraft assumes a roll attitude for turn coordination, the bank angle comprises a component as a function of aircraft side slip for driving aircraft side slip to zero. Automatic turn coordination is disabled if the pilot maneuvers the aircraft to avoid a coordinated turn, and is re-enabled if the pilot maneuvers the aircraft into a coordinated turn attitude. A rate feedback path (143) is provided during operation in the coupled aiming mode wherein aircraft yaw and pitch rate error signals are respectively replaced by the rate of change of the azimuth command and the elevation command. During operation in the coupled aiming mode, intended pilot commanded maneuvers maintain full authority at all times.
Abstract:
During operation of an integrated fire and flight control (IFFC) system in a coupled aiming mode, the occurrence of a weapon (172), weapon mount (145) or sensor (146) reaching a constraint limit (210) induces a fade-in of a constraint limiting axis command signal (140) for a respective attitude axis as the aircraft attitude reference, replacing the flight control system attitude feedback error signal (111) for the respective attitude axis. The constraint limiting axis command signals provide the aircraft attitude reference only while the pilot manually depresses and holds an enable switch (920). The pilot command stick input (90) remains the primary input to the IFFC system to thereby provide override capability for pilot command maneuvers.
Abstract:
A fire control system (55) azimuth command and elevation command provides a flight control system attitude reference in response to operation of the flight control system in a coupled aiming mode. The coupled aiming mode is engaged in response to the continuous operation of a pilot switch (920), the azimuth command and elevation command being below respective threshold magnitudes (940, 941), and the operation of the fire control system (55). During operation in the coupled aiming mode, the azimuth command and elevation command replace the yaw attitude feedback error signal and pitch attitude error signal, respectively, as the aircraft attitude reference. During integration of the fire control system and the flight control system, the flight control system is made less sensitive to small pilot command stick inputs below a stick input threshold magnitude, so that small or inadvertent pilot commanded yaw and pitch maneuvers will not affect the yaw and pitch attitude reference commanded by the fire control system azimuth and elevation commands. However, intended pilot commanded yaw and pitch maneuvers (70) maintain full authority at all times.
Abstract:
A helicopter flight control system includes an automatic turn coordination system which provides a coordinating yaw command signal to the tail rotor of the helicopter. The system stores on command a trim attitude (e.g., signals indicative of bank angle, lateral ground speed, and lateral acceleration) about which automatic turn coordination is provided, thus providing the pilot with automatic turn coordination about attitudes other than wings level.
Abstract:
During operation of a flight control system in a coupled aiming mode, wherein a fire control system (55) azimuth command and elevation command provide an aircraft attitude reference, a bank angle calculation function (1077) provides a bank angle signal to place the aircraft in a roll angle which results in a substantially coordinated turn. The bank angle signal is determined primarily as a function of an aiming line of sight heading rate for small azimuth commands, and is determined primarily as a function of aircraft heading rate for large azimuth commands. Additionally, the bank angle initially comprises a component as a function of aircraft lateral acceleration for driving aircraft lateral acceleration to zero, and after the aircraft assumes a roll attitude for turn coordination, the bank angle comprises a component as a function of aircraft side slip for driving aircraft side slip to zero. Automatic turn coordination is disabled if the pilot maneuvers the aircraft to avoid a coordinated turn, and is re-enabled if the pilot maneuvers the aircraft into a coordinated turn attitude. A rate feedback path (143) is provided during operation in the coupled aiming mode wherein aircraft yaw and pitch rate error signals are respectively replaced by the rate of change of the azimuth command and the elevation command. During operation in the coupled aiming mode, intended pilot commanded maneuvers maintain full authority at all times.
Abstract:
A helicopter flight control system includes an automatic turn coordination system which provides a coordinating yaw command signal to the tail rotor of the helicopter. The system stores on command a trim attitude (e.g., signals indicative of bank angle, lateral ground speed, and lateral acceleration) about which automatic turn coordination is provided, thus providing the pilot with automatic turn coordination about attitudes other than wings level.
Abstract:
During operation of an integrated fire and flight control (IFFC) system in a coupled aiming mode, the occurrence of a weapon (172), weapon mount (145) or sensor (146) reaching a constraint limit (210) induces a fade-in of a constraint limiting axis command signal (140) for a respective attitude axis as the aircraft attitude reference, replacing the flight control system attitude feedback error signal (111) for the respective attitude axis. The constraint limiting axis command signals provide the aircraft attitude reference only while the pilot manually depresses and holds an enable switch (920). The pilot command stick input (90) remains the primary input to the IFFC system to thereby provide override capability for pilot command maneuvers.
Abstract:
A fire control system (55) azimuth command and elevation command provides a flight control system attitude reference in response to operation of the flight control system in a coupled aiming mode. The coupled aiming mode is engaged in response to the continuous operation of a pilot switch (920), the azimuth command and elevation command being below respective threshold magnitudes (940, 941), and the operation of the fire control system (55). During operation in the coupled aiming mode, the azimuth command and elevation command replace the yaw attitude feedback error signal and pitch attitude error signal, respectively, as the aircraft attitude reference. During integration of the fire control system and the flight control system, the flight control system is made less sensitive to small pilot command stick inputs below a stick input threshold magnitude, so that small or inadvertent pilot commanded yaw and pitch maneuvers will not affect the yaw and pitch attitude reference commanded by the fire control system azimuth and elevation commands. However, intended pilot commanded yaw and pitch maneuvers (70) maintain full authority at all times.