Textron Innovations Inc.

Philippe A Ciholas

Steven G Hagerott

Mark W Palmer

Mark Sheridan Hunter

Ronald J Parker

Stephen M Eddy

Jeremy Phillip Taylor

James L Hammer

Disclosed is a throttle quadrant arrangement having a throttle lever which is independently mechanically connected to different Rotary Variable Differential Transformers (RVDTs). A friction lever selectively creates and releases friction from the throttle lever to enable it to be selectively positioned. The system is configured such that the mechanical connections existing between the throttle lever and the RVDTs are shielded from the friction created by the friction lever.

Throttle system

Disclosed is a throttle quadrant arrangement utilizing a single throttle lever. The single lever is independently mechanically connected to three Rotary Variable Differential Transformers (RVDTs). Failure points are engineered into the design such that when one of the mechanical jams, the mechanical connection to the other two RVDTs will not be compromised.

An interconnected flight controller for an aircraft includes a mechanical linkage connecting a pilot interface with a copilot interface. When an input is provided to either of the pilot or copilot interfaces, coordinated motion is provided between them of a proportional magnitude and direction. A mechanical-disconnect element within the mechanical linkage is adapted to actuate mechanical decoupling between the pilot interface and the copilot interface. One or more sensors is coupled to the mechanical linkage to sense inputs and communicate the inputs to a fly-by-wire flight controller. An autopilot servo is coupled to the mechanical linkage for providing autopilot control or feedback and a force-feedback subsystem is connected to the mechanical linkage to simulate and apply an opposing force of aircraft control surfaces to the pilot interface and the copilot interface.

Interconnected sidesticks for fly-by-wire flight control

An automatic yaw enhancement method for an aircraft having at least one propeller includes providing to a flight controller a pilot command from a pilot interface and avionic data for an airspeed, an angle of attack, and a thrust. A P-factor compensation is determined based on one or more of the airspeed, the angle of attack, and the thrust. A command to a trim device is determined based on a P-factor compensation. When a rudder bias persists, the command to the trim device is repeatedly updated until a rudder force input is nullified. The methods provide automatic pilot assistance for controlling yaw during asymmetric flight conditions and automatic turn coordination while allowing intentional side-slip for facilitating crosswind landings.

Automatic yaw enhancement

A system and method for controlling an aircraft with flight control surfaces that are controlled both manually and by a computing device is disclosed. The present invention improves overall flight control operation by reducing the mechanical flight control surface components while providing sufficient back-up control capability in the event of either a mechanical or power-related failure. Through the present invention, natural feedback is provided to the operator from the mechanical flight control surface which operates independent of computer-aided flight control surfaces. Further, through the present invention, force input signals received from the pilot are filtered to improve the operation of the computer-aided flight control surfaces.

Flight control system

A system and method for a controlling an aircraft with flight control surfaces that are controlled both manually and by a computing device is disclosed. The present invention improves overall flight control operation by reducing the mechanical flight control surface components while providing sufficient back-up control capability in the event of either a mechanical or power-related failure. Through the present invention, natural feedback is provided to the operator from the mechanical flight control surface which operates independent of computer-aided flight control surfaces.

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Sedgwick, KS, United States of America

Philippe A Ciholas