Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc.

Other

Innovative Solutions & Support (iss)

Askarpour, Shahram

Knopf, Markus

Shahram Askarpour

Geoffrey S M Hedrick

Markus Knopf

Jeff Collins

Geoffrey SM Hedrick

Geoffrey Hedrick

This disclosure relates to improved techniques for upgrading legacy flight management systems (FMSs) installed in an aircraft. In certain embodiments, an integrated guidance system (IGS) can be installed in an aircraft having a legacy FMS to provide enhance flight functionalities, such as required navigation performance (RNP), localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV), and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), capabilities. Additionally, the IGS described can include, inter alia, a navigator system that receives and processes information from an ADS-B system to implement a variety of automated following options, each of which can provide an automated mechanism for controlling a flight path of the aircraft relative to another aircraft that is being tracked by an ADS-B system.

Systems and methods for implementing automated flight following options and upgrading legacy flight management systems

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 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

Methods and systems for compensating for the absence or loss of a sensor measurement in a heading reference system such as an aircraft attitude and heading reference system, integrated standby unit, or vehicle inertial system, provides an estimate of the lost sensor measurement by estimating the bank angle after a detected vehicle turn. The estimate of the bank angle may also be used to estimate the vehicle's speed. Additionally, when the lost sensor measurement is a temperature measurement, the described methods and systems offer an improvement over estimating air temperature using a standard (e.g., ISA) model. The methods and systems also allow for the refinement of computed estimates using filtering techniques, such as low-pass or Kalman filtering. The methods may be iteratively repeated for each detected turn in order to maintain an accurate estimate of the lost sensor measurement or other estimates, such as vehicle speed.

Systems and methods for compensating for the absence of a sensor measurement in a heading reference system

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

A method and system for compensating for significant soft iron magnetic disturbances in a heading reference system, such as an aircraft heading reference system, such as an integrated standby unit; or a vehicle inertial system, provides a heading correction signal to the 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 iteratively 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 a heading reference system

Systems and methods of calibrating and adjusting for deviations in a vehicle's heading system, such as the attitude heading and reference system of an aircraft or the heading system of a ship, positioned along the Earth's surface involve calibrating magnetometers for hard iron and misalignment errors using single heading measurements. This can be accomplished by obtaining both actual and theoretical readings for the magnetometer of the heading system, and comparing these values to obtain calibration values for the heading system. The vehicle may be repositioned, such as to North, South, East, and west magnetic headings, with the procedure repeated at each of these headings, and the calibration values averaged, further increasing the accuracy.

Systems and methods for calibrating and adjusting a heading reference 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.

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Media, PA, United States of America

Shahram Askarpour