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:
Sep. 03, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 05, 2009
Shyhpyng Jack Shue, Grapevine, TX (US);
John James Corrigan, Coppell, TX (US);
Eric Thomas Bird, Weatherford, TX (US);
Tommie Lynn Wood, Arlington, TX (US);
Alan Carl Ewing, Keller, TX (US);
Shyhpyng Jack Shue, Grapevine, TX (US);
John James Corrigan, Coppell, TX (US);
Eric Thomas Bird, Weatherford, TX (US);
Tommie Lynn Wood, Arlington, TX (US);
Alan Carl Ewing, Keller, TX (US);
Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reconfiguring flight control of an aircraft during a failure while the aircraft is flying. The method and apparatus provide a control law that is software-implemented and configured to automatically send flight control data to a mixing/mapping matrix and a reconfiguration management tool configured to communicate with the mixing/mapping matrix in order to safely transfer authority from a failed actuator to a back-up actuator. A sensor management tool is provided for input to the reconfiguration management tool in order to smooth any transient conditions that may occur during reconfiguration. The method and apparatus provide for a way of smoothing any possible transient situation that might otherwise occur by employment of a fader, the fader being used to gradually convert positioning of failed actuators and positioning of reconfigured actuators.