The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 24, 2023
Filed:
Oct. 22, 2020
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Bryan M. Krawiec, Ashburn, VA (US);
Jack Jordan, Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Rockwell Collins, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for automated vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft emergency landing is disclosed. The system receives a plurality of inputs from onboard modules including aircraft state, vehicle health, acceptable landing zone (LZ), emergency landing path, and 3D world model to prepare an emergency landing procedure when necessary. If functional onboard an unmanned VTOL aircraft, the vehicle health module determines an emergency landing requirement, the system commands a damage tolerant autopilot to perform the emergency procedure and automatically control the VTOL aircraft. If functional onboard a manned VTOL aircraft, an operator or the vehicle health module initiates the emergency landing. Regardless of initiation, the emergency landing system controls, or provides guidance for manned control of, the VTOL aircraft from the point of initiation through touchdown at a threat differentiated preferred LZ via failure-based flight control inputs for automatic landing, or autonomous autorotation entry, glide, and flare.