Airbus Helicopters Deutschland Gmbh

Airbus Helicopters

Thomas Rohr

Boris Grohmann

Axel Guse

Nicolas Avril

Jens Klaubert

A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle and to a method of operating such a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system may include an inceptor adapted for controlling a servo-assisted control unit via a mechanical linkage, first and second force generating devices that are mechanically connected to the inceptor in parallel and provided for generating respective first and second forces that act in operation on the inceptor, a hands-on/off detection management unit, and a decoupling device that mechanically decouples the second force generating device from the inceptor based on a control signal from the hands-on/off detection management unit.

Vehicle control system for autonomous, remotely-controlled, or manual operation of a vehicle

A method of controlling an artificial force feel generating device for generation of an artificial feeling of force on an inceptor that is adapted for controlling a servo-assisted control unit of a vehicle control system, wherein the artificial force feel generating device comprises at least one force generating device that is mechanically connected to the inceptor for generating a tactile cue force acting in operation on the inceptor, and wherein a safety device is provided for limiting authority of the at least one force generating device, the method comprising at least the steps of: monitoring usage of the safety device during operation of the artificial force feel generating device, determining a current accumulated fatigue of the safety device on the basis of the monitored usage, and re-configuring the at least one force generating device on the basis of the current accumulated fatigue.

Method of controlling an artificial force feel generating device for generation of an artificial feeling of force on an inceptor of a vehicle control system

An artificial force feel generating device for generation of an artificial feeling of force on an inceptor of a vehicle control system, the inceptor being adapted for controlling a servo-assisted control unit of the vehicle control system via a mechanical linkage, wherein at least one first force generating device and at least one second force generating device are mechanically connected to the inceptor, the first force generating device being provided for generating a nominal force acting in operation on the inceptor and the second force generating device being provided for generating a tactile cue force acting in operation on the inceptor, the first and second force generating devices being arranged in parallel. The invention relates further to an aircraft comprising such an artificial force feel generating device.

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Augsburg, Germany

Thomas Rohr