Abstract: An emergency module may determine the occurrence of an autorotation condition for a rotary wing air vehicle controlled by a user. The emergency module may, responsive to determining the occurrence of the autorotation condition, control the air vehicle to enter into an autorotation. The emergency module may perform one or more non-user actions during the autorotation to assist the user with the autorotation. The emergency module may, while performing the one or more non-user actions during the autorotation, allow the user to maneuver the air vehicle by interacting one or more control interfaces of the air vehicle.

Abstract: An emergency module may determine occurrence of emergency events of a vehicle traversing through an environment. The emergency module may rank the emergency events according to importance level associated with each emergency event. The emergency module may select an emergency event based on the ranking. The emergency module may notify a user of the vehicle of the selected emergency event. The emergency module may identify corrective actions associated with the selected emergency event, the identified corrective actions including a user action and a non-user action. The emergency module may perform the non-user action of the identified corrective actions. The emergency module may notify the user of the vehicle of the user action.

Abstract: A vehicle control and interface system configured to provide dynamic flight envelope protection of an aerial vehicle is described. In particular, the system dynamically calculates allowable trajectory limits for each axis of control through all phases of flight of an aerial vehicle and provides a visualization of the calculated limits on a graphical user interface. During normal operation, the system does not allow the operator to exceed the calculated limits. Responsive to receiving specified user input to modify vehicle navigation, however, the system causes the aircraft to enter an extended envelope by degrading vehicle parameters according to a hierarchy. Moreover, the system is configured to allow the vehicle to operate in a degraded flight state during a prolonged loss of a sensor signal by setting an adjustable hover trim position of each inceptor device and allowing an operator to control horizontal acceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle control and interface system described herein assists an operator of an aerial vehicle with the operation of an aerial vehicle, including automated control of the aerial vehicle during flight. The system can generate a graphical user interface (GUI) on which lateral guidance and vertical guidance initiation elements are displayed. The system can conditionally disable the vertical guidance initiation element from operator interaction until at least the operator interacts with the lateral guidance initiation element (e.g., to prevent an undesirable roll maneuver during descent). If the operator interacts with the vertical guidance initiation element before engaging lateral guidance, the aerial vehicle may maintain a current altitude rather than climb or descend according to a target vertical guidance route. In this way, the GUI reformats elements based on the operational state of the aerial vehicle and reduces a risk of operational error.

Abstract: A vehicle control and interface system described herein assists an operator of an aerial vehicle with the operation of an aerial vehicle, including navigating during flight. The system can generate a graphical user interface (GUI) through which an operator can specify navigation instructions (e.g., using finger gestures on a touch screen interface). In one example of controlling aerial vehicle navigation using a finger gesture, an operator swipes three fingers simultaneously upwards on a touchpad to increase the vertical speed of the aerial vehicle. The system can update the GUI to show, via a digital avatar of the aerial vehicle, the changing orientation of the aerial vehicle in substantially real time. The GUI may depict representations of the aerial vehicle's environment absent of objects at the surface of the earth or natural features at the earth's surface (e.g., rivers, canyons, mountains, etc.) to reduce a mental strain taken by an operator when using the GUI.

Abstract: A vehicle control and interface system described herein assists an operator of an aerial vehicle with the operation of an aerial vehicle, including tailoring the positioning of aerial vehicle interfaces for a given pilot. A movable control interface of the system adapts aerial vehicle operation to varying physical features of operators by enabling the operator to choose a position of a touch screen interface (e.g., a height of the screen, distance in front of the pilot's seat, etc.) that is adjustable using a mechanical arm. The movable control interface can move a touch screen interface from a stowed position (e.g., away from a pilot seat and proximal to a dashboard towards the front of the cockpit) to an in-flight position (e.g., towards the pilot seat in a position that encourages an ergonomic position of the operator to reach the touch screen interface without straining their shoulder).

Abstract: A vehicle control and interface system described herein assists an operator of an aerial vehicle with the operation of an aerial vehicle, including preparing for flight. A vehicle control and interface system partially or fully automates a procedure for preparing an aerial vehicle for flight, which is referred to herein as engine startup. The engine startup can include safety and accuracy verifications before and after starting an aerial vehicle's engine. The system can check engine parameters (e.g., turbine rotational speeds, engine torque, engine oil pressure), cabin parameters (e.g., a status of seat belts or a current weight of passengers and cargo within the cabin), fuel load, an area around the aerial vehicle (e.g., using cameras to determine that the area is clear of objects before takeoff), any suitable measurement that impacts safe aerial vehicle operations, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to generating and using a customized preflight checklist graphical user interface (GUI) specific to a specified aircraft. A client device may receive a selection of an aircraft to be piloted by a user and retrieves sensor data generated by a sensor of the aircraft. The client device may update a preflight checklist GUI based in part on the sensor data and the aircraft such that the preflight checklist GUI is a customized preflight checklist GUI specific to the aircraft. After determining that a set of preflight checks of the customized preflight checklist GUI are completed, the client device may transmit an authorization to the specified aircraft that authorizes the specified aircraft.

Abstract: A software update system is disclosed for managing a remote software updating process for aerial vehicles. Responsive to receiving an indication from a companion application that an update for a display or a Flight Control Computer (FCC) is available for installation, the software update system may determine if a set of requirements are met by retrieving information associated with the aircraft from the sensors of the aircraft. The software update system may determine whether the aircraft is suitable for performing the installation of the update by checking a set of requirements and retrieving information from the sensors of the aircraft. The software update system may further determine if the update is for a display or an FCC and perform a different remote update process for each type of update correspondingly.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an aircraft control and interface system configured to adaptively control an aircraft according to different flight states by modifying one or more processing control loops. The system receives sensor data from one or more sensors of the aircraft. The system determines, from the sensor data, a component of the aircraft is compromised. The system determines the aircraft is in a degraded flight state due to the compromised component. The system operates the aircraft according to the degraded flight state, wherein operating the aircraft according to the degraded flight state includes: (a) modifying one or more processing loops based on the degraded flight state and (b) generating an actuator command by applying the degraded flight state and a signal based on an input from a vehicle control interface to the modified one or more processing loops.

Abstract: A landing site selection system selects landing sites for unplanned landings for small aircraft. The landing site selection system may generate a landing site database comprising parameters for landing sites. The landing sites may be any location where an aircraft may potentially land. The landing site selection system may monitor aircraft conditions and determine that an unplanned landing may be desirable. The landing site selection system may select potential landing sites based on the aircraft conditions and the landing site parameters. The landing site selection system may display landing site parameters for the selected landing sites to a pilot to allow the pilot to select a landing site. The landing site selection may provide navigation instructions or autonomously navigate the aircraft to the landing site.