Abstract: A method for operating an aircraft (1) is provided, wherein for a predetermined trajectory (NT) of the aircraft (1) a volume enveloping the trajectory (NT) is determined, which volume includes a first, inner volume and a second, outer volume, and the second volume envelops the first volume. The first volume is composed of a plurality of first individual volumes (TVi) and the second volume is composed of a number of second individual volumes, which individual volumes (TVi) are calculated at each point of the trajectory (NT) on the basis of parameters (vi) of an actual flight condition of the aircraft (1) at a respective time.

Abstract: An all-inclusive method for planning the operation of an aerial vehicle, in particular an eVTOL, which operation is divided into different operational areas each with its own individually validatable and inspectable planning methodology, including (i) pre-processing data on a computer basis on the ground before takeoff of the aerial vehicle; (ii) taking along pre-planned results of the data pre-processing in the form of a database (33, 44) on board the aerial vehicle, preferably after transferring the pre-planned results into the database (33, 44) on board the aerial vehicle; (iii) combining the pre-planned results by means of a computer-based decision logic (28) with planning steps at the flying time in accordance with a state of the aerial vehicle recorded by sensors for generating a current flight path; and (iv) controlling the aerial vehicle along the current flight path.

Abstract: A method of controlling an aircraft that operates in a network of fixed landing platforms, includes defining at least one alternate landing area) having an entry point and an exit point; b) pre-planning at least one flight trajectory to the entry point; c) automatically steering the aircraft along the flight trajectory; d) to perform a landing procedure at the alternate landing area, transferring control of the aircraft to an online planning device, preferably on board the aircraft, upon reaching the entry point; e) automatically scanning the alternate landing area, preferably according to a predetermined search pattern, and searching the alternate landing area for a landing site by active sensor technology; f) if a suitable landing site is identified, automatically carrying out a landing procedure of the aircraft at the landing site by the online planning device, otherwise g) automatically steering the aircraft to the exit point.

Abstract: A method for flight path control of an aircraft in which boundaries of an airspace authorized for a mission of the aircraft are defined, which boundaries a) include a hard boundary, which delimits an area forbidden to the aircraft, and b1) a warning boundary, at which safety measures are initiated when reached by the aircraft, and/or b2) a soft boundary, at which emergency measures are initiated. To calculate a location of the warning and/or soft boundary, parameters of an actual flight status of the aircraft, such as speed, altitude, path angle or other factors, for example wind and/or weather conditions, are continuously determined and dynamically taken into consideration by a computer-assisted flight path controller of the aircraft and/or by an external controller. The aircraft-located and/or external controller subsequently checks whether the aircraft presently or in future infringes the mentioned boundaries at its current position.

Abstract: A method for operating an aircraft (1) is provided, wherein for a predetermined trajectory (NT) of the aircraft (1) a volume enveloping the trajectory (NT) is determined, which volume includes a first, inner volume and a second, outer volume, and the second volume envelops the first volume. The first volume is composed of a plurality of first individual volumes (TVi) and the second volume is composed of a number of second individual volumes, which individual volumes (TVi) are calculated at each point of the trajectory (NT) on the basis of parameters (vi) of an actual flight condition of the aircraft (1) at a respective time.

Abstract: A trajectory planning method for determining a flight trajectory (FB) for an aerial vehicle (1) in a three-dimensional space from a starting point (VP1) to a finishing point (VP2), in which a) a first trajectory planning, confined to a first plane or area in the three-dimensional space, is carried out in order to obtain a first trajectory planning result with a first trajectory profile (BP1); b) a second trajectory planning, confined to a second plane or area (SE), different from the first plane or area in the three-dimensional space, is carried out in order to obtain a second trajectory planning result; and c) the first trajectory planning result and the second trajectory planning result are combined to form an overall trajectory planning result for the flight trajectory (FB).

Abstract: An all-inclusive method for planning the operation of an aerial vehicle, in particular an eVTOL, which operation is divided into different operational areas each with its own individually validatable and inspectable planning methodology, including (i) pre-processing data on a computer basis on the ground before takeoff of the aerial vehicle; (ii) taking along pre-planned results of the data pre-processing in the form of a database (33, 44) on board the aerial vehicle, preferably after transferring the pre-planned results into the database (33, 44) on board the aerial vehicle; (iii) combining the pre-planned results by means of a computer-based decision logic (28) with planning steps at the flying time in accordance with a state of the aerial vehicle recorded by sensors for generating a current flight path; and (iv) controlling the aerial vehicle along the current flight path.

Abstract: A motion planning method and system for aircraft, in particular for separately electrically driven, load-carrying and/or people-carrying multicopters, includes: a motion preliminary planning unit that executes a preliminary planning algorithm using a computer on the ground or on board an aircraft in question, by which algorithm a reference trajectory, emergency trajectories are determined at intervals along the reference trajectory and confidence intervals are determined along the reference trajectory, which confidence intervals specify a spatial volume in which to maneuver without a pre-planned path but that the aircraft can't leave or is able to leave only at predefined locations; a data store in which parameters of the reference trajectory, parameters of the confidence intervals and parameters regarding a permissible deviation of the aircraft from the reference trajectory are stored on the aircraft according to instructions of the motion preliminary planning unit; a real-time control unit on the aircraft f

Abstract: A method for controlling an aerial vehicle of a specific type, in particular a multirotor VTOL aerial vehicle with preferably electrically driven rotors, in which a) before a flight, a finite number of nominal trajectories (NT) for the aerial vehicle and a finite number of emergency trajectories (CT) arranged around the nominal trajectories (NT) are calculated and stored in a database available on board the aerial vehicle; b) before a flight, a finite number of type-specific admissible flying maneuvers of the aerial vehicle are pre-planned and stored in the database as a maneuver library; c) optionally before a flight, a number of discrete flight levels with different flight altitudes are defined and stored in the database; d) during a flight, the database is accessed by a computer-aided transition planning algorithm, in order, depending on a state of the aerial vehicle recorded by sensors, to change between the nominal trajectories (NT) and the emergency trajectories (CT) and also optionally between the defi

Abstract: A method for signal selection for a flight system having an aircraft, and having a signal selection apparatus that receives first and second control signals, wherein at least the first or the second control signal is dependent on a remote control input from a pilot and/or an autopilot, and uses an analysis logic circuit to ascertain a piece of first reliability information for the first control signal and a piece of second reliability information for the second control signal. In step A, a system state of the aircraft is ascertained based on at least a piece of state information and/or a piece of mission information of the aircraft; in step B, an automated, formal decision logic circuit is used to take the first and second reliability information and the system state and a control hierarchy as a basis for prioritizing the first or second control signal; in step C, either the first or second control signal is output in the form of a prioritized control signal.

Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft (AC), in particular UAV, for assessing operational risk at a given position in space, including: dissimilarly acquiring (S1.1, . . . ,S1.n) multiple heterogeneous geospatial data sets (DL1, . . . ,DLn); deriving metrics for operational risk from each of the data sets (DL1, . . . ,DLn), thus obtaining multiple corresponding geospatial risk layers (RL1, . . . RLn), by a respective risk model; storing the risk layers (RL1, . . . RLn) in a risk layer database (DB); accessing the risk layer database (DB) during aircraft operation planning and/or during actual aircraft operation to obtain a mission risk map (RMA); operating the aircraft (AC) based on risk information provided in the mission risk map (RMA), preferably including minimizing a mission risk. A system for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A trajectory planning method for determining a flight trajectory (FB) for an aerial vehicle (1) in a three-dimensional space from a starting point (VP1) to a finishing point (VP2), in which a) a first trajectory planning, confined to a first plane or area in the three-dimensional space, is carried out in order to obtain a first trajectory planning result with a first trajectory profile (BP1); b) a second trajectory planning, confined to a second plane or area (SE), different from the first plane or area in the three-dimensional space, is carried out in order to obtain a second trajectory planning result; and c) the first trajectory planning result and the second trajectory planning result are combined to form an overall trajectory planning result for the flight trajectory (FB).

Abstract: A motion planning method and system for aircraft, in particular for separately electrically driven, load-carrying and/or people-carrying multicopters, includes: a motion preliminary planning unit that executes a preliminary planning algorithm using a computer on the ground or on board an aircraft in question, by which algorithm a reference trajectory, emergency trajectories are determined at intervals along the reference trajectory and confidence intervals are determined along the reference trajectory, which confidence intervals specify a spatial volume in which to maneuver without a pre-planned path but that the aircraft can't leave or is able to leave only at predefined locations; a data store in which parameters of the reference trajectory, parameters of the confidence intervals and parameters regarding a permissible deviation of the aircraft from the reference trajectory are stored on the aircraft according to instructions of the motion preliminary planning unit; a real-time control unit on the aircraft f