Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compression latch with a folding handle for selectively holding a door closed. The latch includes a housing with a cup portion for receiving the handle in the folded down position such that the projection of the latch handle above the exterior surface of the door is minimized in the folded-down position. The handle functions to move a pawl in a combination of rotational and linear translational movements as the pawl is moved between latched and unlatched positions.

Abstract: In a servo loop closure for an aircraft control surface, surface position from the control surface synchro is utilized to augment the servo motor rate feedback so as to reduce limit cycle oscillation. The high frequency content of surface position is suppressed by substituting a percentage of the low frequency content thereof for the same percentage of low frequency servo motor rate. This arrangement reduces control column activity normally associated with high effectiveness ratios of surface position for servo motor rate substitution.

Abstract: An estimator for determining the distance of a moving vehicle to a stationary position includes the determination of actual and estimated velocities of the vehicle along a selected path. An up-dated distance estimate is established by multiplying estimated distance by the ratio of the actual velocity to the estimated velocity. The up-dated estimate is then utilized as the estimated and another up-dated distance is obtained. Iterations continue until the ratio approaches unity indicating that the estimated distance is approximately equal to the actual distance.

Abstract: A servo system simulator utilizing an electronic equivalent of the servomotor to drive a programmable electronic load which mimics the actual load encountered by the servo system simulated.