Patents by Inventor Glen A. Knaust

Glen A. Knaust has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11275373
    Abstract: A method for providing adaptive control to a fly-by-wire aircraft includes measuring via at least one first sensor a characteristic of at least one component of the aircraft and measuring via at least one second sensor a state of the aircraft. Using the characteristic of at least one component and the state of the aircraft, a determination of at least one of an actual damage and remaining life of the at least one component is made. The operational envelope of the aircraft is adapted based on the at least one of actual damage and remaining life of the at least one component. Adapting the operational envelope includes adjusting an outer boundary thereof to prohibit operation exceeding a safe operation threshold and generating an intermediate boundary of the operational envelope. Operation of the aircraft within the intermediate boundaries minimizes further damage accrual of the at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Thornberg, Glen A. Knaust, Derek H. Geiger
  • Publication number: 20200103897
    Abstract: A method for providing adaptive control to a fly-by-wire aircraft includes measuring via at least one first sensor a characteristic of at least one component of the aircraft and measuring via at least one second sensor a state of the aircraft. Using the characteristic of at least one component and the state of the aircraft, a determination of at least one of an actual damage and remaining life of the at least one component is made. The operational envelope of the aircraft is adapted based on the at least one of actual damage and remaining life of the at least one component. Adapting the operational envelope includes adjusting an outer boundary thereof to prohibit operation exceeding a safe operation threshold and generating an intermediate boundary of the operational envelope. Operation of the aircraft within the intermediate boundaries minimizes further damage accrual of the at least one component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher A. Thornberg, Glen A. Knaust, Derek H. Geiger
  • Patent number: 10124889
    Abstract: A tail rotor recovery control system has a detection module configured to detect a loss of tail rotor drive from a tail rotor sensor of an aircraft; and a regulation module configured to augment or deactivate manual flight control signals and transmit automated signals to control modules of a primary flight control system. The automated signals facilitate the aircraft to attain or maintain a preset tip path plane level, attain or maintain a preset aircraft state, or to execute an automated recovery to forward flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter James Waltner, Glen Knaust
  • Publication number: 20160325830
    Abstract: A tail rotor recovery control system has a detection module configured to detect a loss of tail rotor drive from a tail rotor sensor of an aircraft; and a regulation module configured to augment or deactivate manual flight control signals and transmit automated signals to control modules of a primary flight control system. The automated signals facilitate the aircraft to attain or maintain a preset tip path plane level, attain or maintain a preset aircraft state, or to execute an automated recovery to forward flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Peter James Waltner, Glen Knaust
  • Patent number: 8594864
    Abstract: A torque based power limit cueing system is provided and includes an engine computer to compile data relating to torque and additional information of each of one or more engines, an active stick by which tactile cueing are provided to a pilot and by which the pilot inputs control commands, a multi-function display (MFD) by which visible cues are provided to the pilot and a flight control computer (FCC) operably coupled to the engine computer, the active stick and the multi-function display, the FCC being configured to receive the data from the engine computer and to output tactile cue commands and visible commands in accordance with the torque and the additional information of each of the one or more engines to the active stick and the MFD, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron L. Greenfield, Alex Faynberg, Vineet Sahasrabudhe, John Rucci, Glen Knaust
  • Publication number: 20130054053
    Abstract: A torque based power limit cueing system is provided and includes an engine computer to compile data relating to torque and additional information of each of one or more engines, an active stick by which tactile cueing are provided to a pilot and by which the pilot inputs control commands, a multi-function display (MFD) by which visible cues are provided to the pilot and a flight control computer (FCC) operably coupled to the engine computer, the active stick and the multi-function display, the FCC being configured to receive the data from the engine computer and to output tactile cue commands and visible commands in accordance with the torque and the additional information of each of the one or more engines to the active stick and the MFD, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aaron L. Greenfield, Alex Faynberg, Vineet Sahasrabudhe, John Rucci, Glen Knaust