Abstract: An obstacle avoidance system according to the present invention may include an input control device, a sensor suite, and a communication feedback loop. The input control device is preferably operable to create a first force, while the sensor suite is configured to detect nearby obstacles, and the communication feedback loop is in communication with the input control device and the senor suite so that said communication feedback loop is operable to generate a command signal in response to detection of a nearby obstacle. The command signal being operable to cause an actuator to generate a second force different from said first force. Preferably, the obstacle avoidance system is used in combination with an apparatus, such as a rotary wing aircraft, wherein the input control device at least partially controls the movement of the apparatus in response to a user's input. The user's input tending to cause the first force to move the apparatus in a first direction.

Abstract: A method for flying in a degraded visual environment comprising the steps of collecting environmental data, processing the data and fusing the data together into a combined input output. The output is fed into a head down display, head mounted or heads up display and, preferably to a fly-by-wire vertical take-off and landing capable vehicle wherein the fly-by-wire system makes automatic adjustments to the helicopter.

Abstract: A flight control system includes a primary flight display having a hover display which facilitates operations in DVE conditions. The hover display includes a radar altitude display, heading drift symbology and lateral drift symbology which assists pilots in the detection of drift, which is common in DVE situations and to provide the pilot with a salient cue pertinent to the approach to hover and landing.

Abstract: A flight control system includes a primary flight display having a hover display which facilitates operations in DVE conditions. The hover display includes a radar altitude display, heading drift symbology and lateral drift symbology which assists pilots in the detection of drift, which is common in DVE situations and to provide the pilot with a salient cue pertinent to the approach to hover and landing.

Abstract: A method for flying in a degraded visual environment comprising the steps of collecting environmental data, processing the data and fusing the data together into a combined input output. The output is fed into a head down display, head mounted or heads up display and, preferably to a fly-by-wire vertical take-off and landing capable vehicle wherein the fly-by-wire system makes automatic adjustments to the helicopter.

Abstract: A control system compensation algorithm which operates as a comparator of a nominal state and unlimited dynamic state of an actuator. Upon reaching either rate or position saturation, the difference between the nominal state actuator model and the unlimited dynamics actuator model is the excess command signal of an uncompensated actuator command which would put the actuator into saturation. The excess command is then filtered to the designed system bandwidth. The filtered excess servo command from filter is then subtracted from the original uncompensated actuator command signal to generate the rate limited actuator command.