Abstract: A flight control computer (FCC) may implement automatic rotor tilt control by gathering or receiving, as inputs, airspeed or a commanded airspeed for the aircraft, acceleration or a commanded acceleration for the aircraft, pitch attitude of the aircraft and pilot pitch bias commands for the aircraft, a rotor tilt angle, and/or the like. The FCC calculates, from the airspeed, the commanded airspeed, the acceleration, the commanded acceleration, the pitch attitude, the pilot pitch bias commands, and/or the like, a commanded rotor tilt angle for the aircraft. From the aircraft rotor tilt angle and the commanded rotor tilt angle, the FCC calculates a rotor tilt angle error for the aircraft, and from the rotor tilt angle error, calculates a rotor tilt rate command for the aircraft. The FCC outputs the resulting rotor tilt rate command to (an) aircraft flight control element actuator(s) to tilt the aircraft rotor.

Abstract: Automatic low-speed aircraft maneuver wind compensation is implemented by an aircraft flight control system flight control computer (FCC) configured to receive or retrieve steady wind data and retrieve groundspeed data for the aircraft. The FCC computes two-dimensional relative horizontal airspeed (i.e., horizontal relative to the surface of the earth) for the aircraft, using the steady wind data and the groundspeed data for the aircraft, and computes relative changes in trim controls of the aircraft using the two-dimensional relative horizontal airspeed of the aircraft. The resulting relative changes in controls of the aircraft due to relative horizontal airspeed changes are applied to flight element control actuators.

Abstract: A flight control computer (FCC) may implement automatic rotor tilt control by gathering or receiving, as inputs, airspeed or a commanded airspeed for the aircraft, acceleration or a commanded acceleration for the aircraft, pitch attitude of the aircraft and pilot pitch bias commands for the aircraft, a rotor tilt angle, and/or the like. The FCC calculates, from the airspeed, the commanded airspeed, the acceleration, the commanded acceleration, the pitch attitude, the pilot pitch bias commands, and/or the like, a commanded rotor tilt angle for the aircraft. From the aircraft rotor tilt angle and the commanded rotor tilt angle, the FCC calculates a rotor tilt angle error for the aircraft, and from the rotor tilt angle error, calculates a rotor tilt rate command for the aircraft. The FCC outputs the resulting rotor tilt rate command to (an) aircraft flight control element actuator(s) to tilt the aircraft rotor.

Abstract: An exemplary method for controlling low speed flight of an aircraft having a controller receiving pilot input includes transitioning from a translational rate command (TRC) to a linear acceleration command (LAC) when the controller is displaced above a control transition displacement (CTD), and while in LAC holding speed when the controller is relaxed to CTD.

Abstract: An exemplary method for controlling low speed flight of an aircraft having a controller receiving pilot input includes transitioning from a translational rate command (TRC) to a linear acceleration command (LAC) when the controller is displaced above a control transition displacement (CTD), and while in LAC holding speed when the controller is relaxed to CTD.

Abstract: A flight control system and method for controlling the vertical flight path of an aircraft, the flight control system includes a stable decoupled model having a decoupled lateral equation of motion and a decoupled longitudinal equation of motion and a feedback command loop operably associated with the stable decoupled model. The feedback command loop includes a vertical flight path angle control law; an altitude control law; and a vertical speed control law.

Abstract: A system and method to control hovering flight of a rotary aircraft. The system including a lateral speed hold loop, a longitudinal loop, a vertical control loop, and a directional loop. The method includes defining a first flight envelope having a first groundspeed threshold; defining a second flight envelope having a second groundspeed threshold, the second flight envelope being defined within the first envelope; engaging a hover hold with a control law hover hold architecture as the aircraft enters the first flight envelope; and engaging a position hold with a control law position hold architecture as the aircraft enters the second flight envelope.

Abstract: A flight control system and method for controlling full envelope banked turns of an aircraft, the flight control system including one or more of a control law architectures having one or more control laws adapted for controlling the flight of an aircraft for full envelope banked turns.

Abstract: An aircraft and method to control flat yawing turns of the aircraft while maintaining a constant vector heading across a ground surface. The aircraft includes a control system in data communication with a model, a lateral control architecture, a longitudinal control architecture, and an initialization command logic. The model decouples the directional movement of the aircraft into a lateral equation of motion and a longitudinal equation of motion. The lateral control architecture utilizes the lateral equation of motion to control the aircraft in the lateral direction, while the longitudinal control architecture utilizes the longitudinal equation of motion to control the aircraft in the longitudinal direction. The initialization command logic selectively activates the lateral control architecture and the longitudinal control architecture.

Abstract: A system and method to control hovering flight of a rotary aircraft. The system including a lateral speed hold loop, a longitudinal loop, a vertical control loop, and a directional loop. The method includes defining a first flight envelope having a first groundspeed threshold; defining a second flight envelope having a second groundspeed threshold, the second flight envelope being defined within the first envelope; engaging a hover hold with a control law hover hold architecture as the aircraft enters the first flight envelope; and engaging a position hold with a control law position hold architecture as the aircraft enters the second flight envelope.

Abstract: A flight control system and method for controlling full envelope banked turns of an aircraft, the flight control system including one or more of a control law architectures having one or more control laws adapted for controlling the flight of an aircraft for full envelope banked turns.

Abstract: A flight control system and method for controlling the vertical flight path of an aircraft, the flight control system includes a stable decoupled model having a decoupled lateral equation of motion and a decoupled longitudinal equation of motion and a feedback command loop operably associated with the stable decoupled model. The feedback command loop includes a vertical flight path angle control law; an altitude control law; and a vertical speed control law.

Abstract: An aircraft and method to control flat yawing turns of the aircraft while maintaining a constant vector across a ground surface. The aircraft includes a control system in data communication with control actuators, a lateral control architecture, a longitudinal control architecture, and an initialization command logic. The lateral control architecture controls the aircraft in the lateral direction, while the longitudinal control architecture controls the aircraft in the longitudinal direction. The initialization command logic automatically activates the lateral control architecture and the longitudinal control architecture to maintain a constant vector across the ground whenever a directional control input is made at low speed.

Abstract: An aircraft and method to control flat yawing turns of the aircraft while maintaining a constant vector across a ground surface. The aircraft includes a control system in data communication with control actuators, a lateral control architecture, a longitudinal control architecture, and an initialization command logic. The lateral control architecture controls the aircraft in the lateral direction, while the longitudinal control architecture controls the aircraft in the longitudinal direction. The initialization command logic automatically activates the lateral control architecture and the longitudinal control architecture to maintain a constant vector across the ground whenever a directional control input is made at low speed.