Abstract: A cockpit switch device can include a pushbutton switch, a bi-stable relay and a toggle component. The pushbutton switch can be configured to be manually actuated by a user into a command state. The bi-stable relay can be controlled by input commands from the pushbutton switch and input commands from a processor, and can be configured to control operation of one or more systems of an aircraft. The toggle component can be connected to the pushbutton switch, the processor and the bi-stable relay. The toggle component can receive an input command signal from at least one of the pushbutton switch or the processor, and cause a state of the bi-stable relay to be flipped responsive to the input command signal from the at least one of the pushbutton switch or the processor.

Abstract: Offline task-based feature processing for aerial vehicles is provided. A system can extract features from a world model generated using sensor information captured by sensors mounted on an aerial vehicle. The system generates a label for each of the features and identifies identify processing levels based on the features. The system selects a processing level for each feature of a subset of features based on a task performed by the aerial vehicle and the label associated with the feature. The system generates one or more processed features by applying the processing level to a respective feature of the subset of the plurality of features. The system presents the one or more processed features on a display device of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: An actuation system for an aircraft can include an actuator and a plurality of clutches connected to and structured to be moved by the actuator. The actuation system can include a plurality of control levers connected to the plurality of clutches and structured to be moved by the plurality of clutches when the plurality of clutches are moved by the actuator. The actuation system can include a processor connected to the actuator and to the plurality of clutches. The processor can identify one or more clutches connected to one or more control levers of the plurality of control levers for controlling an operation of the aircraft, and cause the one or more clutches connected to the one or more control levers to be in an engaged stat. The processor can activate the actuator to cause movement of the one or more control levers via the one or more clutches.

Abstract: A cockpit switch device can include a pushbutton switch, a bi-stable relay and a toggle component. The pushbutton switch can be configured to be manually actuated by a user into a command state. The bi-stable relay can be controlled by input commands from the pushbutton switch and input commands from a processor, and can be configured to control operation of one or more systems of an a aircraft. The toggle component can be connected to the pushbutton switch, the processor and the bi-stable relay. The toggle component can receive an input command signal from at least one of the pushbutton switch or the processor, and cause a state of the bi-stable relay to be flipped responsive to the input command signal from the at least one of the pushbutton switch or the processor.

Abstract: An actuation system for an aircraft can include an actuator and a plurality of clutches connected to and structured to be moved by the actuator. The actuation system can include a plurality of control levers connected to the plurality of clutches and structured to be moved by the plurality of clutches when the plurality of clutches are moved by the actuator. The actuation system can include a processor connected to the actuator and to the plurality of clutches. The processor can identify one or more clutches connected to one or more control levers of the plurality of control levers for controlling an operation of the aircraft, and cause the one or more clutches connected to the one or more control levers to be in an engaged stat. The processor can activate the actuator to cause movement of the one or more control levers via the one or more clutches.

Abstract: A system for providing instructions directed to facilitating the completion of an aerial mission in an environment includes one or more sensors mounted on a vehicle; a transceiver configured to transmit an instruction directed to facilitating the completion of the mission to an electronic display; and a server comprising a processor coupled to memory of the vehicle containing processor-readable instructions. The instructions causing the processor to, responsive to receiving a factor associated with the mission, compute the instruction directed to facilitating the completion of the mission based on adjusting a cost function, the factor being at least one of a boundary condition of the cost function or a constraint of the cost function.

Abstract: A technique relates to autonomous obstacle avoidance. A vehicle is controlled on a route to a destination, the route being a three-dimensional route. An obstruction is determined on the global route. A local route including alternate points to avoid the obstruction is autonomously determined. The local route is autonomously converged back to the global route in response to avoiding the obstruction.

Abstract: Offline task-based feature processing for aerial vehicles is provided. A system can extract features from a world model generated using sensor information captured by sensors mounted on an aerial vehicle. The system generates a label for each of the features and identifies identify processing levels based on the features. The system selects a processing level for each feature of a subset of features based on a task performed by the aerial vehicle and the label associated with the feature. The system generates one or more processed features by applying the processing level to a respective feature of the subset of the plurality of features. The system presents the one or more processed features on a display device of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a computer-implemented method for water volume estimation includes detecting water based at least in part on sensor-based data; determining a volume of water based at least in part on the sensor-based data; determining a location at the water for an aircraft to retrieve water via a water retrieving apparatus; and translating the location of the water into pilot inputs to guide the aircraft to the water.

Abstract: A technique relates to interactive aircraft operation. An interactive electronic checklist is selected from a plurality of interactive electronic checklists, the interactive electronic checklists each comprising checklist tasks. It is perceived that one or more of the checklist tasks in the interactive electronic checklist is executable by an autonomous system. The one or more of the checklist tasks is performed using the autonomous system, an operator being designated to perform any other ones of the checklist tasks.

Abstract: A landing assembly and method of landing an aircraft. The landing assembly includes a landing gear, a charging circuit, a sampling circuit and a processor. The charging circuit applies a charge to the landing gear and the sampling circuit measures a discharge rate of the electrical charge from the landing gear. The processor determines a contact between the landing gear and a surface from the discharge rate.

Abstract: A technique relates to interactive aircraft operation. An interactive electronic checklist is selected from a plurality of interactive electronic checklists, the interactive electronic checklists each comprising checklist tasks. It is perceived that one or more of the checklist tasks in the interactive electronic checklist is executable by an autonomous system. The one or more of the checklist tasks is performed using the autonomous system, an operator being designated to perform any other ones of the checklist tasks.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a computer-implemented method for water volume estimation includes detecting water based at least in part on sensor-based data; determining a volume of water based at least in part on the sensor-based data; determining a location at the water for an aircraft to retrieve water via a water retrieving apparatus; and translating the location of the water into pilot inputs to guide the aircraft to the water.

Abstract: A technique relates to adaptive flight display. The technique includes rendering a first flight instrument display during autonomous flight operation of an aircraft, the first flight instrument display comprising autonomous mode information; determining, by a processor, that a trigger is met to transition from the first flight instrument display for the autonomous flight operation to a second flight instrument display for providing an increased perception of aircraft operating parameters for at least one of increased human awareness and human operation of the aircraft, the trigger being associated with a requirement for human intervention; and in response to the trigger being met, rendering the second flight instrument display for the human operation of the aircraft, the second flight instrument display comprising additional information.

Abstract: A technique relates to autonomous obstacle avoidance. A vehicle is controlled on a route to a destination, the route being a three-dimensional route. An obstruction is determined on the global route. A local route including alternate points to avoid the obstruction is autonomously determined. The local route is autonomously converged back to the global route in response to avoiding the obstruction.

Abstract: A system and method of landing an aircraft. The system includes a human machine interface responsive to an input from an operator, and a processor. A region of interest for the aircraft is selected. A representation of a potential landing zone associated with the region of interest is presented at a human machine interface. A suitability of the potential landing zone for landing is evaluated to obtain an evaluation score. The evaluation score for the potential landing zone is presented at the human machine interface. An input is received at the human machine interface to select the potential landing zone. The aircraft is landed at the selected landing zone.

Abstract: A technique relates to adaptive flight display. The technique includes rendering a first flight instrument display during autonomous flight operation of an aircraft, the first flight instrument display comprising autonomous mode information; determining, by a processor, that a trigger is met to transition from the first flight instrument display for the autonomous flight operation to a second flight instrument display for providing an increased perception of aircraft operating parameters for at least one of increased human awareness and human operation of the aircraft, the trigger being associated with a requirement for human intervention; and in response to the trigger being met, rendering the second flight instrument display for the human operation of the aircraft, the second flight instrument display comprising additional information.

Abstract: A method of trajectory control for a vehicle includes obtaining an initial trajectory; presenting the initial trajectory as a current trajectory on an I/O device, the current trajectory presented overlaying terrain; initiating travel of the vehicle along the current trajectory; updating the current trajectory and the terrain in real time as the vehicle travels along the current trajectory; determining if change in the current trajectory is required; changing the current trajectory to an altered trajectory in response to determining change in the current trajectory is required; and presenting the altered trajectory on the I/O device, the altered trajectory presented overlaying the terrain.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting a mechanically controlled aircraft with a fly-by-wire system includes removing a mechanical links between mechanical pilot inputs and actuators operable to drive flight surfaces. Electromechanical actuators are coupled between a plurality of vehicle management computers and the actuators. Each of the electromechanical actuators is operable to receive commands from the vehicle management computers and output a mechanical force to an input linkage of one of the actuators. Electromechanical pilot input modules are coupled to the mechanical pilot inputs. Each of the electromechanical pilot input modules is operable to convert a pilot-driven input force of an instance of the mechanical pilot inputs into an electronic signal indicative of the pilot-driven input force. At least one high performance computer is coupled to at least one of the vehicle management computers.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a method of optimal safe landing area determination for an aircraft includes accessing a probabilistic safe landing area map that includes a plurality of probabilistic indicators of safe landing areas for the aircraft. A processing subsystem that includes one or more processing resources generates a list of candidate safe landing areas based on the probabilistic safe landing area map and one or more constraints. At least two of the candidate safe landing areas are provided to a path planner. The list of candidate safe landing areas is ranked based on results from the path planner indicating an estimated cost to reach each of the candidate safe landing areas. Based on the ranking, an indicator of an optimal safe landing area is output as a desired landing location for the aircraft.