Airbus Operations (s.a.s.)

Airbus Operations Gmbh

Airbus Helicopters

José Torralba

Julie Lebas

Jean-Luc Robin

Stéphane Delannoy

A system for controlling aircraft flight control surfaces implements a method including: obtaining a control law for the flight control surfaces as a function of flight controls of the aircraft; obtaining measurements of ground speed, true speed, roll angle, pitch angle, angle of attack, sideslip angle and slope angle; performing an estimation of the wind in three dimensions using the measurements obtained; performing an adjustment of the control law for the flight control surfaces, to counter the estimated wind effect and to obtain an adjusted control law for the flight control surfaces, by adding, to the control law, a term for wind compensation comprising a term proportional to the derivative of the wind estimation; and controlling the aircraft by applying the adjusted control law. Thus, the impact of the wind on the aircraft is reduced by digital processing and automatic adjustment of the control of the flight control surfaces.

Method for adjusting aircraft controls

Method and device for determining trajectory to optimal position of a follower aircraft with respect to vortices generated by a leader aircraft. The method includes controlling trajectory of a follower aircraft to an optimal position where the follower aircraft benefits from effects of at least one of the vortices of a leader aircraft. A first section control step controls flight of the follower aircraft using current measurements of flight parameters, from a safety position to a search position, along an approach section passing through an approach zone. A second section control step controls flight of the follower aircraft using current measurements of flight parameters, from the search position to a precision position, along a search section passing through a search zone, and a third section control step controls flight of the follower aircraft, from the precision position to the optimal position, along an optimization section passing through an optimization zone.

Method and device for controlling trajectory of a follower aircraft

Method and device for controlling the path of a following aircraft with respect to a leading aircraft where the aircraft fly in formation. The device includes a data reception unit configured to receive an item of risk of collision information relating to the leading aircraft, a calculating unit configured to determine at least one what is termed safety position when an item of risk of collision information is received, the safety position corresponding to a position in which the following aircraft is not subjected to effects of vortices generated by the leading aircraft, and a control unit configured to bring the following aircraft into the safety position as soon as the calculating unit has determined the safety position.

Method and device for controlling the path of a following aircraft, with respect to a leading aircraft, in front of the following aircraft, in particular when there is a risk of collision, the leading and following aircraft flying in formation

A method and device for monitoring and controlling a path of a following aircraft (AC) with respect to vortices (V, V) generated by a leading aircraft (AC) while both aircraft (AC, AC) fly in a formation (F), wherein the device includes a unit for determining, using a vortex transport model, a safety position (PS) at which the following aircraft (AC) is not subjected to effects of the vortices (V, V) generated by the leading aircraft (AC), a unit for determining, using a vortex signature model, an optimum position (PO) at which the following aircraft (AC) benefits from at least one (V) of the vortices (V, V), and a control unit for bringing and keeping the following aircraft (AC) in the safety position (PS) while a predetermined condition(s) is met and otherwise for bringing the following aircraft (AC) and keeping it in the optimum position (PO).

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Merville, France

José Torralba