Abstract: An aircraft fuel system includes one or more fuel cells adapted to contain fuel, a fuel cell receiving assembly having an inner surface adapted to receive the one or more fuel cells and a fuel cell cushion disposed between the inner surface of the fuel cell receiving assembly and the one or more fuel cells. The fuel cell cushion is machined from a foam substrate to form a shaped foam substrate that is substantially covered with a cushion coating. The cushion coating is sprayable onto the shaped foam substrate such that the fuel cell cushion is substantially nonabsorbent of fuel. The fuel cell cushion is interposable between the inner surface of the fuel cell receiving assembly and the one or more fuel cells to cushion the one or more fuel cells from damage.

Abstract: A system includes nodes deployable across an area and self-forming a mobile ad-hoc network. The nodes include (1) imaging circuitry for capturing an image of a local sub-area based on a triggering event, (2) image-transfer circuitry for partitioning a captured image into sub-images or image segments and transmitting them to other nodes, (3) image-transmission circuitry for transmitting a sub-image from another node on an uplink to a relay such as a satellite. The relay (1) receives transmissions of respective sub-images, in parallel on independent channels, from the nodes via respective uplinks, and (2) retransmits the sub-images to the remote location via a downlink. A central control station at the remote location (1) receives the sub-images from the relay via the downlink, (2) re-creates the captured image by combining the received sub-images, and (3) utilizes the re-created image in a monitoring or control operation of the central control station.

Abstract: A motor vehicle operating fluid container is made of thermoplastic. The container is composed of two shells forming a substantially closed hollow body. A first shell forms an upper base of the container, and a second shell forms a lower base of the container. The container includes at least one line which is designed as an integral part of a container wall over at least one sub-length, where the line is designed as a channel which runs in the container wall over said sub-length. The channel has an open trough-shaped profiled cross-section which forms a part of the line cross-section, and the channel is closed by at least one cover which complements the trough-shaped profiled cross-section so as to form a closed cross-section.

Abstract: A rotary system and method to control feathering and centrifugal forces of a rotor blade during flight. The rotary system having a hub assembly, which includes a hollow yoke arm to receive a spindle section of the rotor blade. A tension-torsion strap extends through the hollow yoke arm and couples the rotor blade and the hub assembly. The method includes allowing the spindle section of the rotor blade to pivot within the hollow yoke arm and controlling rotational and centrifugal movement of the rotor blade with the tension-torsion strap.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a soft in plane rotor yoke comprising two longitudinal side portions connected together via two outboard portions, wherein the outboard portions comprise a plurality of first layers formed of a first composite fabric material having a plurality of first fibers oriented in a first direction, and a plurality of second layers formed of a second composite fabric material having a plurality of second fibers oriented in a second direction. Included is an apparatus comprising a soft in plane rotor comprising two longitudinal side portions connected together via two outboard portions, wherein the outboard portions comprise a plurality of first layers formed of a first composite fabric material, and a plurality of second layers formed of a second composite fabric material, wherein the soft in plane rotor yoke does not comprise any narrow steered slit tape or filament windings.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for statistically equivalent level of safety modeling. One method includes identifying sub-fleets within a fleet based upon usage profiles, determining a sub-fleet reliability value for each sub-fleet, determining a baseline fleet reliability for the fleet by combining the sub-fleet reliability values on a weighted basis, applying at least one credit to at least one sub-fleet, determining a post-credit sub-fleet reliability value for each sub-fleet based upon the at least one credit, determining a post-credit fleet reliability for the fleet by combining the post-credit sub-fleet reliability values on a weighted basis, comparing the baseline fleet reliability with the post-credit fleet reliability to identify a change in fleet reliability and determining whether the change in fleet reliability is within a predetermined threshold to validate the at least one credit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pilot assistance system includes a trim assembly and a trim assembly control system. The trim assembly is operable to communicate with a pilot control device and operable to apply a force against the pilot control device in resistance of a command received from a pilot via the pilot control device. The trim assembly control system is in communication with the trim assembly, configured to identify a first pilot control device position relative to a reference pilot control device position, and configured to instruct the trim assembly to apply a cueing force against the pilot control device if the pilot control device is positioned proximate to the first pilot control device position.

Abstract: An inflight connection system for aircraft having at least one wing with a wingtip includes, for each aircraft, a primary connector selectively extendable from the wingtip, an alignment connector selectively extendable from the wingtip and a male and female connector assembly disposed proximate the wingtip. The primary connectors extend a greater distance from the wingtips than the alignment connectors such that the primary connectors form a first connection between the aircraft when the aircraft are flying in a connection pattern. Thereafter, retraction of the primary connectors reduces wingtip separation of the aircraft such that the alignment connectors form a second connection between the aircraft establishing coarse alignment therebetween. Thereafter, retraction of the primary and alignment connectors further reduces wingtip separation of the aircraft such that the male and female connector assemblies form a third connection between the aircraft establishing fine alignment therebetween.

Abstract: A rotorcraft has a low density altitude flight mode and a high density altitude flight mode. The rotorcraft includes a turboshaft engine forming a gas path in sequence through an air inlet section, a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section and an exhaust section. A drive system is coupled to the engine and is operable responsive to rotation of at least a portion of the turbine section. A rotor is coupled to the drive system and is operable to receive torque and rotational energy therefrom. A fuel injection system supplies fuel to the combustor section. An oxidizer injection system and a coolant injection system are used to selectively inject an oxidizer and a coolant into the gas path when it is desired to operate the rotorcraft in the high density altitude flight mode, thereby increasing the altitude density ceiling of the rotorcraft for maneuvers including takeoffs and landings.

Abstract: A tiltrotor aircraft has a fuselage and a wing having upper and lower surfaces with a plurality of channels extending therebetween, each with a cycloidal rotor mounted therein. At least two pylon assemblies are rotatably coupled to the wing to selectively operate the tiltrotor aircraft between helicopter and airplane flight modes. Each pylon assembly includes a mast and a proprotor assembly operable to rotate with the mast to generate thrust. At least one engine provides torque and rotational energy to the proprotor assemblies and the propulsion assemblies. Each of the cycloidal rotors has a plurality of blades that travels in a generally circular path and has a plurality of pitch angle configurations such that each cycloidal rotor is operable to generate a variable thrust and a variable thrust vector, thereby providing vertical lift augmentation, roll control, yaw control and/or pitch control in the helicopter flight mode.

Abstract: A roll control system controls roll control surfaces of an aircraft that are capable of causing the aircraft to perform a roll maneuver by respectively deflecting in upward and downward directions. The roll control system includes deflection limiter units for respectively limiting angles of deflection of the roll control surfaces, and further includes deflection rate limiter units for respectively limiting rates of deflection of the roll control surfaces. The deflection limiter unit limits the roll control surfaces to deflection distances and deflection rates based at least in part on the deflection direction of the roll control surfaces. For a given set of flight conditions, such as airspeed, if a roll control surface is deflecting upwardly, it is less limited by the roll control system in terms of deflection distance and deflection rate than if the roll control surface is deflecting downwardly.

Abstract: An adhesive joint for an aircraft includes a first aircraft component having a first surface forming one or more isolation grooves, a second aircraft component having a second surface and an adhesive forming a bondline between the first and second surfaces to bond the first aircraft component to the second aircraft component. The adhesive substantially fills the one or more isolation grooves to form at least one disbond arrest boundary. The at least one disbond arrest boundary is operable to prevent a disbond in the bondline from traversing therethrough, thereby preventing the disbond from propagating along the bondline across the at least one disbond arrest boundary.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic on-blade actuation system includes a pair of linear motors, a pair of flexible bladders and a pair of hydraulic units. Each linear motor outputs linear force in response to input. The pair of flexible bladders attach to opposite sides of a rotorcraft blade. Each hydraulic unit connects a linear motor to a flexible bladder to hydraulically transmit the linear force of the linear motor to the flexible bladder to actuate the rotorcraft blade.

Abstract: An adapter for a rotor blade assembly including a support member having an outboard surface and an inboard surface; an outboard feature extending laterally from the outboard surface of the support member and including a first lug and a second lug; an inboard feature extending laterally from the inboard surface of the support member and including a first arm and a second arm. The outboard feature and the inboard feature are configured such that a plane defined by an attachment surface of at least one of the first lug and the second lug is non-parallel to a plane defined by an attachment surface of at least one of the first arm and the second arm.

Abstract: The present invention includes an adjustable Pitot tube and method for using the same for operating or flight testing an aircraft comprising: a Pitot probe; a streamline tube connected to the Pitot probe; a mount on the aircraft connected to the streamline tube, wherein the streamline tube can at least one of rotate about an axis of the mount, or the streamline tube can move the Pitot probe closer to, or away from, a skin of the aircraft.

Abstract: A power demand anticipation system for a rotorcraft includes an engine subsystem having an engine with a power output. The power demand anticipation system also includes one or more sensors including a cyclic control sensor. The one or more sensors are operable to detect one or more flight parameters of the rotorcraft to form sensor data including a cyclic control position. A power demand anticipation module is in data communication with the engine subsystem and the one or more sensors. The power demand anticipation module is operable to anticipate a power demand of the engine using the sensor data to form a power demand anticipation signal. The engine subsystem is operable to adjust the power output of the engine based on the power demand anticipation signal received from the power demand anticipation module.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating a rotorcraft includes operating the rotorcraft in a speed control mode, where a speed of the rotorcraft is proportional to a pilot control command; detecting a high longitudinal acceleration condition; upon detection of the high longitudinal acceleration condition, temporarily disabling the speed control mode and stabilizing the rotorcraft while the speed control mode is disabled; and reestablishing the speed control mode when a measured longitudinal acceleration of the rotorcraft falls below a first threshold.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an aircraft features a fuselage, a wing member, and two fuselage beam. The fuselage features a first plurality of structural supports, a second plurality of structural supports, a first opening disposed between the first plurality of structural supports, and a second opening disposed between the second plurality of structural supports. The wing member is disposed above the first opening and above the second opening. The wing features a plurality of ribs including a first rib and a second rib. The first fuselage beam couples the first rib of the wing member to the fuselage and has an elongated body portion extending across the first plurality of structural supports. The second fuselage beam couples the second rib of the wing member to the fuselage and features an elongated body portion extending across the second plurality of structural supports.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a tiltrotor aircraft includes an engine supported by the airframe and a fixed gearbox operably coupled to the engine. Inboard and outboard pedestals are supported by the airframe and positioned above the wing. A pylon assembly is rotatably coupled between the inboard and outboard pedestals. The pylon assembly includes a spindle gearbox having an input gear, a mast operably coupled to the input gear and a proprotor assembly operable to rotate with the mast. The spindle gearbox is rotatable about a conversion axis to selectively operate the tiltrotor aircraft between helicopter and airplane modes. A common shaft, rotatable about the conversion axis, is configured to transfer torque from an output gear of the fixed gearbox to the input gear of the spindle gearbox. Each of the inboard and outboard pedestals includes a journal bearing that provides a stiff coupling with the pylon assembly.