Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc.

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Innovative Solutions & Support (Iss)

Innovation Solutions & Support, Inc.

Geoffrey S M Hedrick

Shahram Askarpour

Markus Knopf

Marlon Brown

Jeff Collins

An autothrottle for an aircraft that includes a power-control input (PCL) manually movable by a pilot along a travel path to effect a throttle setting that controls engine power of the aircraft. The autothrottle determines a control-target setting for a throttle of the aircraft and dynamically adjusts the throttle according to the control-target setting, including moving the PCL to achieve the control-target setting. A virtual detent is set and dynamically adjusted at positions along a travel path of the PCL corresponding to the control-target setting. The virtual detent is operative, at least when the autothrottle is in a disengaged state for autothrottle control, to indicate the control-target setting to the pilot via a haptic effect that applies a detent force opposing motion of the PCL in response to the PCL achieving the position of the virtual detent.

Pilot interface for aircraft autothrottle control

An autothrottle of an aircraft is configured to reduce engine power of the aircraft such that the aircraft incrementally slows from a prior airspeed to a reduced airspeed by a first increment, and compare the rates of energy consumption at the prior airspeed and the reduced airspeed. In response to the rate of energy consumption at the reduced airspeed being lower than at the prior airspeed as determined the above operations are repeated. In response to the rate of energy consumption at the reduced airspeed not being less than at the prior airspeed, the autothrottle increases the engine power such that the aircraft incrementally speeds up from a prior airspeed to an increased airspeed by a second increment, the increased airspeed corresponding to a more efficient operating point of the aircraft than any prior airspeed.

Aircraft control for endurance and fuel economy

An autothrottle system to be interfaced with a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) system having a command input that receives sensed power-control input (PCL) position signaling indicative of a manual throttle setting for an aircraft. The autothrottle system generates automated power command signaling that is synthesized to virtualize electrical characteristics of the sensed PCL position signaling such that the automated power command signaling is recognized by the FADEC system as sensed PCL position signaling.

Retrofit aircraft autothrottle control for aircraft with engine controllers

Aircraft autothrottle system, having a motor to impart rotational movement to a shaft extending from the motor. An actuator is connected to the shaft and to an attachment end of a throttle lever having a control end, opposite the attachment end. The actuator has bearings to apply thrust to a longitudinal surface of the shaft such that the actuator is translated longitudinally along the shaft surface in response to motor-imparted rotation of the shaft. The shaft surface being smoothly continuous and longitudinally unbroken along its elongation to allow the actuator to longitudinally slip along the shaft irrespective of any shaft rotation by the motor when the thrust force exceeds a linear force manually applied at the throttle lever. An electronic controller for the motor to move the throttle lever so the motor moves the actuator assembly along the shaft based on an engine parameter monitored by the controller.

Precision operator for an aircraft autothrottle or autopilot system with engine performance adjust

An autothrottle system for an aircraft includes a motor, an actuator assembly, and a position sensor connected to a moving portion of the actuator assembly. An electronic controller is provided for receiving an aircraft engine operating parameter and to control the motor to rotate the shaft to adjust the engine operating parameter based on the engine operating parameter and a position signal received from the position sensor. The actuator assembly has a bearing assembly having a plurality of bearings configured to contact a surface of the shaft to effect movement of the throttle lever attachment end.

An autothrottle system for an aircraft includes a motor, actuator assembly, and position sensor operatively connected between the motor and a moving portion of the actuator assembly. An electronic controller is configured to control the motor to move the actuator assembly to actuator positions based at least on position information from the position sensor to move the throttle lever to lever positions.

An autothrottle system for an aircraft includes a motor, actuator assembly, and position sensor operatively connected between the motor and a moving portion of the actuator assembly. An electronic controller is configured to control the motor to move the actuator assembly to actuator positions based at least on position information from the position sensor to move the throttle lever to lever positions. When a surge condition is detected the autothrottle increases the throttle lever in a regulated manner for optimal performance over the different regions of an engine power output.

A method and system for compensating for soft iron magnetic disturbances in multiple heading reference systems, such as aircraft heading reference systems, integrated standby units; or vehicle inertial systems, detects and provides a heading correction signal to the error prone heading reference system when a detected difference in value between a gyro heading relative to magnetic north and a magnetometer reading during a defined measurement period exceeds a predetermined acceptable threshold value of change, such as one based on the expected gyro drift over that period. Upon receipt of the heading correction signal, the gyro heading is adjusted to maintain an accurate heading relative to true magnetic north. If this threshold value is not exceeded, then the magnetometer reading is used for the heading value. This method is periodically repeated in order to continually maintain an accurate heading and may be employed for each heading measurement axis.

Method and system for compensating for soft iron magnetic disturbances in multiple heading reference systems

An autothrottle system for an aircraft includes a motor, actuator assembly, and position sensor operatively connected between the motor and a moving portion of the actuator assembly. An electronic controller is configured to control the motor to move the actuator assembly to actuator positions based at least on position information from the position sensor to move the throttle lever to lever positions. The actuator assembly includes a bearing assembly having a plurality of bearings to contact a surface of a shaft for converting rotational movement of the shaft into linear motion of the bearing assembly along the shaft. The actuator assembly further includes a shuttle arm having at one end a mounting surface to attach to the bearing assembly and at the other end a linkage arm operatively coupled to the attachment end of the lever.

Precision operator for an aircraft autothrottle or autopilot system

A composite normalized angle of attack indicating system provides a simultaneous display of both body angle of attack, such as in digital form, and normalized angle of attack for an aircraft. The display may be visually enhanced as stall is approached such as by zooming the body angle of attack digital display and/or by changing the color of the display. The normalized display also selectively displays an approach reference band when the flap setting is equal to or greater than 20 degrees.

Composite normalized angle of attack indicating system

A preexisting FMS system may be upgraded to increase its functionality by optimizing the control of autopilot and auto-throttle functions and replacing other preexisting components with different components for enhancing the functionality of the FMS system. The preexisting IRU, CADC, DME receiver and DFGC in the upgraded FMS system are in communication with the legacy AFMC but, instead of employing the legacy EFIS, the EFIS is replaced by a data concentrator unit as well as the display control panel and integrated flat panel display, and a GPS receiver. The upgraded FMS system is capable of iteratively controlling the autopilot and auto-throttle during all phases of flight and of such increased functionality as increased navigation database storage capacity, RNP, VNAV, LPV and RNAV capability utilizing a GPS based navigation solution, and RTA capability, while still enabling the legacy AFMC to exploit its aircraft performance capabilities throughout the flight.

Growing community of inventors

Malvern, PA, United States of America

Geoffrey S M Hedrick