Abstract: A propulsion and lift system of a tiltrotor aircraft includes a wing having an outboard end, a wing tip assembly having an inboard end, a fixed nacelle coupled to the wing tip assembly and a wing-nacelle splice assembly having inboard and outboard sides. The inboard side of the wing-nacelle splice assembly is coupled to the outboard end of the wing, and the outboard side of the wing-nacelle splice assembly is coupled to the inboard end of the wing tip assembly, thereby coupling the fixed nacelle to the wing.

Abstract: Axial airplane airscrew-, fan-, and wind turbine blade of low loading characterised by the fact that the aspect ratio of the airscrew-, fan- and wind turbine blades is low; near to the wide blade ends, but in an appropriate distance an aperture of appropriate length and width—almost parallel to the side of the blade end—is formed, which connects the surfaces of lower and higher pressure. When being operated, the air flowing through this aperture eliminates the turbulence formed at the end of the blades. With regards to diameter, the choice of the distribution of strings on the airscrew blade (its blade width) caused problems in case of adapting a huge performance, as well as there was a need to form wide blade ends. The losses resulting from the circular flow of the blade ends were, however, increased dramatically.

Abstract: A propeller pitch control system for a turboprop engine of an aircraft includes an engine control unit and a pitch control unit. The engine control unit is operable to determine a phase of flight of the aircraft and is configured to supply control commands. The pitch control unit is coupled to receive the control commands from the engine control unit and includes a housing, a beta piston, a position sensor, a beta tube, and an electrohydraulic valve. The engine control unit only commands the electrohydraulic valve to move the beta piston from the fully retracted position when the engine control unit determines the aircraft is conducting pre-takeoff roll taxiing operations or is conducting post landing touchdown operations.

Abstract: A propeller oil control system for a turboprop engine of an aircraft includes an engine control unit and a propeller oil controller. The engine control unit is operable to determine a flight phase of the aircraft and is configured to supply control commands. The propeller oil controller is coupled to receive a supply of oil and to discharge the oil at a discharge oil pressure. The propeller oil controller includes an electrohydraulic servo valve that receives the control commands moves to a plurality of positions between a first position and a mid-position, and a plurality of positions between the mid-position and a second position. The engine control unit only commands the electrohydraulic servo valve to move out of the first position when the engine control unit determines the aircraft is conducting a take-off roll or the aircraft is in flight.

Abstract: A control system (400) for an active inceptor (103) for a fly by wire aircraft permits a zero force null point to settle to a non-zero displacement trim position. An internal position state of a second order mass spring damper model is moved in conjunction with force-displacement characteristic coordinates. This results in no second order dynamics being superimposed on the feel of the inceptor (103) when dynamically adjusting the trim position, thereby eliminating the possibility of any unpleasant buzzing been felt by the operator of the inceptor during a trimming operation.

Abstract: A control system for electronically linked pilot and co-pilot inceptors (103) permits an asymmetric roll axis feel depending on whether an inceptor is moved inboard or outboard. A circuit (401) receives a signal representative of a force applied to the pilot's inceptor resulting from a side-to-side movement and detects if the force applied is in an inward or an outward direction. A gain factor is applied to the received force signal to produce a factored force signal. The gain applied to a signal representative of force applied in an outward direction is greater than the gain factor applied to a signal representative of force applied in an inward direction. A summer (212, 213) sums the factored force signal with a corresponding factored force signal derived from force signals from the co-pilot's inceptor to produce a modified force signal for use in a force feedback control system associated with each inceptor.

Abstract: An aircraft flap deployment system has a track, a carriage supported by the track; an actuator operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage along the track between various carriage positions; a flap pivotally connected to the carriage and to a link such that each position of the carriage has a corresponding flap position; and a flap controller communicating with the actuator for controlling actuation of the actuator. In at least one carriage position, the flap is in an intermediate flap position at a negative flap angle and the actuator maintains the carriage and the flap in position. An aircraft wing assembly having the flap deployment system, an aircraft having the aircraft wing assembly, and a method for controlling a position of a flap of an aircraft are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aircraft flight control system includes a first actuator attached to a wing main body, a horn arm configured to transmit an output of the first actuator to a control surface, and a second actuator that is a rotary actuator and attached to the control surface. At least one of the first actuator and the second actuator is an electromechanical actuator (EMA). A first end of the horn arm is coupled to an output terminal of the first actuator, and a second end of the horn arm is fixed to an output terminal of the second actuator. The second actuator is attached to the control surface such that a turning axis of the output terminal is parallel to or coincides with a fulcrum axis (hinge line) of the control surface.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for controlling an aircraft based on detecting and mitigating fatiguing conditions and aircraft damage conditions is disclosed. According to one example, a computer-implemented method includes detecting, by a processing system, a health condition of a component of the aircraft. The method further includes determining, by the processing system, whether the health condition is one of a fatigue condition or a damage condition. The method further includes implementing, by the processing system, a first action based at least in part on determining that the health condition is a fatigue condition to mitigate the fatigue condition. The method further includes implementing, by the processing system, a second action based at least in part on determining that the health condition is a damage condition to mitigate the damage condition.

Abstract: A system for an unmanned aerial vehicle can include an altitude control system, which further includes a compressor assembly, a valve assembly, and an electronics assembly. The compressor assembly may include a driveshaft and a bearing assembly configured to rotate the driveshaft. The driveshaft may be formed from a first material and a compressor housing may be formed from a second material. The first and second materials may have different rates of thermal expansion. A dynamic preloading mechanism, such as a flexible plate, may be provided within the compressor assembly to exert a preloading force on the bearing assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to aviation equipment. An object of this invention is to develop a new non-conventional aerodynamic apparatus that can increase the efficiency of the air flow power use to generate lifting force, control moments and the reactive thrust of the apparatus. For this purpose, the aerodynamic apparatus containing a body, fan blowers with drive motors (1, 22), wings (3, 7), a system for operating medium temperature control (28, 29, 30), an external communication unit (13, 14, 26, 27) with the openings in the external body (17), according to the invention, due to the principal design solutions connected with the use of the primary rotary wing (3) and the steering rotary wing (7) made in a petal-like shape, of the sphere shaped external (17), middle (19) and internal (20) bodies affecting the nature of the operating medium motion, for the operating medium flow segments, the optimum sphere shaped paths have been obtained, which minimizes losses by airflow friction.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear structure according to the present disclosure includes a strut assembly and a wheel assembly operatively coupled to the strut assembly. The strut assembly includes an upper tubular housing and a lower tubular housing configured to be longitudinally translated with respect to the upper tubular housing such that the overall length of the strut assembly is transitioned between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration for stowage during flight. The wheel assembly includes a forward link pivotally coupled to the upper tubular housing and a truck beam that is pivotally coupled to the lower tubular housing such that translation of the lower tubular housing with respect to the upper tubular housing causes pivoting of the forward link and the truck beam with respect to one another, thereby tilting and/or raising a wheel of the wheel assembly with respect to the upper tubular housing.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly having a bogie beam pivotally coupled to a support member, and a pitch trimmer assembly including a pitch trimmer actuator configured to exert a biasing force in a first direction and a bias force transmission assembly configured to receive the biasing force in the first direction and bias the bogie beam towards a predetermined neutral position relative to the support member irrespective of the initial position of the bogie beam.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motorizing device (1) for moving an aircraft (A) provided with a landing device (L) having wheels (W) on the ground, the motorizing device comprising at least one electric motor (2) having an output shaft provided with means for its rotational connection to at least one of the wheels (W) of the landing device for driving said wheel in rotation, and an electronic control unit (3) connected on the one hand to the motor to control it and on the other hand to a control interface (4) from which the aircraft pilot can transmit control signals which the electronic control unit (3) is arranged to transform into motor control signals, characterized in that the control unit is arranged to implement a first control law having determined dynamics to promote an aircraft movement speed and a second control law having dynamics to promote aircraft manoeuvrability.

Abstract: A braking system architecture for aircraft, the architecture comprising: a brake including friction members and electromechanical actuators for exerting a braking torque on the wheel; a computer situated in the fuselage of the aircraft and arranged to produce first control signals; and a junction box situated on the undercarriage, the junction box being connected to the computer and to the electromechanical actuators, the junction box being configured to receive the first control signals and to use the first control signals to produce second control signals for application to the electromechanical actuators in order to control the electromechanical actuators.

Abstract: A braking system architecture for aircraft, the architecture comprising: a brake including friction members and electromechanical actuators for exerting a braking torque on the wheel; a computer situated in the fuselage of the aircraft and arranged to produce first control signals; and a junction box situated on the undercarriage, the junction box being connected to the computer and to the electromechanical actuators, the junction box being configured to receive the first control signals and to use the first control signals to produce second control signals for application to the electromechanical actuators in order to control the electromechanical actuators.

Abstract: A braking system architecture for aircraft, the architecture comprising: a brake including friction members and electromechanical actuators for exerting a braking torque on the wheel; a computer situated in the fuselage of the aircraft and arranged to produce first control signals; and a junction box situated on the undercarriage, the junction box being connected to the computer and to the electromechanical actuators, the junction box being configured to receive the first control signals and to use the first control signals to produce second control signals for application to the electromechanical actuators in order to control the electromechanical actuators.

Abstract: A rotor for an aircraft is described that comprises: a hub rotatable about an axis and, in turn, comprising a plurality of blades; a mast connectable to a drive member of the aircraft and connected to the hub to drive the hub in rotation about the axis; and damping means to dampen the transmission of vibrations to the mast in a plane orthogonal to the axis; the damping means comprising at least a first mass and a second mass that can eccentrically rotate about the axis with a first and a second speed of rotation, respectively; the first mass and second mass are operatively connected to the mast to generate, respectively, a first and a second damping force on the mast having a main component in a direction radial to the axis; the rotor comprises a transmission unit, which is interposed between the mast and the first and second masses so as to drive the first and second masses in rotation.

Abstract: A dual-rotor wing motor includes a sleeve separating an inner shaft from an outer shaft. An external bearing is independently coupled to a shaft cover while an internal bearing is independently coupled to the inner shaft, and thus the external bearing and the internal bearing independently bear a friction force due to the rotation of the respective single shaft, the heat generated by the friction force can be reduced and the lubricant cannot be easily evaporated. Accordingly, the service life of the dual-rotor wing motor of the present invention can be prolonged.

Abstract: A duct configured with a fan to increase thrust. The duct includes an interior surface configured to surround a rotation axis of the fan. The interior surface includes a nozzle portion configured to be located upstream of the fan and a diffuser portion configured to be located downstream of the fan. The interior surface defines an opening configured to introduce additional airflow along the diffuser portion.

Abstract: A modular flying car includes a ground vehicle and a flight vehicle. The ground vehicle includes a chassis, a first cabin and a landing platform for landing the flight vehicle. The flight vehicle includes a second cabin and a flight driving device. The flight vehicle is capable of landing and taking off vertically on the landing platform and connected with the ground vehicle by interlocking. Users can choose to travel by the ground vehicle or the flight vehicle, and can transfer between the ground vehicle and the flight vehicle, to solve the traffic jam problem and make the realization of the flying car more feasible. A flying car system and a flying car sharing method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicular alert system includes an autonomous aerial vehicle and a central computer. The autonomous aerial vehicle includes a processor, a display, and a detector. The processor controls a data transceiver. The detector detects one or more vehicular condition. The central computer communicates with the autonomous aerial vehicle via the data transceiver. The central computer includes a memory device. The memory device stores vehicular condition data and road condition data. The central computer communicates one of a vehicular condition or a road condition to the autonomous aerial vehicle. The processor of the autonomous aerial vehicle displays the received condition on the display.

Abstract: In a method for avoiding dazzling of a person (10) by a light source (6) arranged in an interior (20) of a vehicle (22), wherein the light source (6) during operation emits light (24) within a beam cone (26), a camera (4) is arranged in the interior (20) and oriented such that at least one monitoring section (28) of the beam cone (26), in which the person (10) can enter, is located in the field of view (30) of the camera (4), the camera (4) records a camera image (32), using machine person detection, it is ascertained from the camera image (32) whether at least one part of the person (10) is located within the beam cone (26), in this case, at least the region (18) of the beam cone (26) in which the part of the person (10) is located is switched to glare-free.

Abstract: An aircraft barrier system separating, within an aircraft, a secure area from a passenger cabin of the aircraft, comprises a barrier installed inside the passenger cabin and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a latch mounted to the barrier, and a locking device comprising a latching clamp configured to lock the latch when the barrier is in the closed position. The aircraft barrier system further comprises a release mechanism configured to move the latching clamp from a locking state locking the latch to an unlocking state releasing the latch, wherein the release mechanism is further configured to delay the moving of the latching clamp from the locking state to the unlocking state. Also, an aircraft area and an aircraft having such aircraft barrier system.

Abstract: A tray table mount for use on an aircraft that incorporates a headrest attached to an upper support that is attached to an intermediate member. The intermediate member is attached to a lower planar member that is placed over an unfolded tray table. The headrest is covered by a head cushion that includes a nose relief aperture to receive the nose of the passenger with his forehead and face resting in the headrest. The upper support, the intermediate member, and lower planar member are designed to be easily assembled or disassembled and stored in a compact configuration. In one embodiment, the upper support and intermediate member are pivotally connected and the intermediate member is pivotally connected to the lower planar support. Formed on the lower end of the lower section is an edge engaging slot that captures either the front or rear edges of tray table. Also mounted on the frame is a ledge configured to hold a viewing device.

Abstract: A seat with self-stowage capability is provided. The seat includes a seat pan lever which is rotatable between stowed and open positions, a fixed seat structure and an elastic assembly. The fixed seat structure includes an annulus. The elastic assembly includes a damper and an arc-spring disposable within the annulus to permit first rotations of the seat pan lever from the stowed position to the open positions and to urge second rotations of the seat pan lever from the open positions to the stowed position.

Abstract: A supervision system for an aircraft for monitoring a safe charging of portable electrical devices of a passenger who may be in an attentive or an inattentive state, comprising a passenger seat, a power supply station assigned to the seat and used to supply electrical power to the portable electrical device, the portable electrical device being connected to the power supply station, a camera, which detects the state of the passenger situated on the seat, and an arrangement to distinguish whether the passenger is in an attentive or inattentive state. A method for safe charging of portable electrical devices is also presented and described, comprising the steps of detecting a passenger with a camera, analyzing whether the passenger is in an attentive state or in an inattentive state, and, if the passenger is in an attentive state, supplying a power supply station with electrical power to be provided to a portable electrical device connected to the power supply station.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method of use for the aircraft-based generation of usable water from atmospheric water vapor for storage and use within the aircraft.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle safety apparatus includes a safety mechanism, a drive mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a control mechanism. The safety mechanism is used for securing safety of at least one of an aerial vehicle and an object outside the aerial vehicle. The drive mechanism includes at least one drive unit serving as a drive source of the safety mechanism. The ejection mechanism ejects the drive mechanism together with the safety mechanism. The control mechanism controls operations of the drive mechanism for the drive mechanism to drive the safety mechanism after the ejection mechanism starts ejection of the safety mechanism.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle includes an airframe, a canopy capable of adjusting a speed of falling during falling, a brake cord having one end connected to the canopy, a wind-up apparatus provided in the airframe and being capable of winding up the other end of the brake cord, a sensor unit that detects a distance to an external object, and a controller that controls an operation of the wind-up apparatus based on a result of detection by the sensor unit. The wind-up apparatus includes a gas generator as a drive source. The controller has the wind-up apparatus operate to wind up the other end of the brake cord by activating the gas generator when the distance detected by the sensor unit is equal to or smaller than a prescribed value.

Abstract: A motor driven propulsor of an aircraft includes magnets disposed in fan shrouds of fan blades connected with a fan hub, a stator having individual conductive coils in a nacelle located radially outside of the fan hub, and a distributed inverter assembly having several inverter power stages and gate drivers, each of the inverter power stages coupled with a separate gate driver of the gate drivers and a separate coil of the coils in the stator. Each of the gate drivers is configured to individually control supply of direct current to the corresponding inverter power stage. Each of the inverter power stages is configured to convert the direct current supplied to the inverter power stage to an alternating current that is supplied to the corresponding coil in the stator to rotate the magnets and the fan blades around a center line of the fan hub for propelling the aircraft.

Abstract: A propulsive assembly of an aircraft comprises a junction fairing, ensuring a continuity between a nacelle and a pylon, which comprises a fixed frame, linked to the nacelle and/or to the pylon by a link system configured to absorb any deformations and/or misalignments between the nacelle and the pylon in operation, which has an outer wall comprising an opening, a cowl, mobile between a closed position in which the cowl blocks the opening, and an open position in which the cowl at least partially frees the opening, which has a panel, the outer wall of the fixed frame and the panel of the cowl having outer surfaces which form the aerodynamic surface of the junction fairing. An aircraft is also provided which comprises at least one such propulsive assembly.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a gas turbine engine coupled to an aircraft propeller are described herein. The method comprises detecting a command for unfeathering the propeller, inhibiting shaft shear detection logic in response to detecting the command for unfeathering the propeller, detecting completion of the unfeathering of the propeller, and enabling the shaft shear detection logic in response to detecting the completion of the propeller unfeathering.

Abstract: A device for providing power or thrust to an aerospace vehicle with a control system providing two different mechanical power outputs deriving their power from one common mechanical power source unit includes: a common mechanical power source unit an adjustable mechanical load unit driven by the common mechanical power source unit, an electrical machine unit with a mechanical power interface connected to the common mechanical power source unit and configured to receive mechanical power from the common mechanical power source unit to provide electrical power at an electrical power interface, and a control system configured to receive a mechanical power or thrust demand and standard air data from the aerospace vehicle. Only based on the mechanical power or thrust demand and standard air data, the control system is configured to control the device to provide mechanical power or thrust as well as electrical power to the aerospace vehicle.

Abstract: Technologically improved vehicle control systems and methods are described. The provided vehicle control systems and methods embody an inner loop auto-throttle control for causing delta-throttle changes, i.e., servo changes, to achieve desired acceleration targets. The system generates an error on a potential flight path angle using a received thrust acceleration command. The error on the potential flight path angle is converted into an equivalent acceleration. A throttle rate command TLA_ratecmd is generated by converting the equivalent acceleration into the throttle rate command TLA_ratecmd.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having a control module and smart nodes. The method includes maintaining a block chain ledger, which includes an information block from at least a preceding engine start, may be at the control module of the aircraft engine. The method also includes maintaining a hash of at least a digital certificate and data at one of the smart nodes; transmitting a message including the hash to the control module; receiving the message at the control module; determining a control hash based upon the information from at least a preceding engine start at the control module; module comparing the hash to the control hash at the control; and based upon the comparison, starting the engine and updating the block chain ledger as a function of the received message.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes: an engine core having a turbine including a lowest pressure rotor stage, a turbine diameter, a fan including a plurality of fan blades extending from a hub, an annular fan face at a leading edge of the fan; wherein a downstream blockage ratio is: the ? ? turbine ? ? diameter ? ? at ? ? an ? ? axial location ? ? of ? ? the ? ? lowest ? ? pressure ? ? rotor ? ? stage ground ? ? plane ? ? to ? ? wing ? ? distance and a quasi-non-dimensional mass flow rate Q defined as: Q = W ? ? T ? ? 0 P ? ? 0. ? ? A flow where: W is mass flow rate through the fan in Kg/s; T0 is average stagnation temperature of the air at the fan face in Kelvin; P0 is average stagnation pressure of the air at the fan face in Pa; and Aflow is the flow area of the fan face in m2, and wherein a Q ratio of: the downstream blockage ratio×Q is in a range from 0.005 to 0.01.

Abstract: A fuel system for an aircraft can include one or more airframe fuel lines configured to transfer fuel from one or more fuel tanks to an engine, one or more engine fuel pumps in fluid communication with the one or more airframe fuel lines and configured to pressurize fuel from a main stage boost pressure to a combustor pressure to be injected into a combustor of an engine, one or more airframe fuel pumps configured to pressurize fuel within the one or more airframe fuel lines to the main stage boost pressure used by the engine fuel pump. For example, the main stage boost pressure can be about 250 psi.

Abstract: A fiber composite component includes an integrated structural health sensor arrangement, wherein the component includes a plurality of layers of fibers embedded in a matrix material, wherein the layers include at least two strain sensing fibers arranged parallel and at a distance to each other, wherein the strain sensing fibers are lithiated carbon fibers having piezoelectric characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving a package from an unmanned aerial vehicle at a rooftop package receiving station and securely holding the package at the package receiving station. The recipient, using a computing device, may prompt the package receiving station to deliver the package from the rooftop to a delivery location.

Abstract: An aircraft loader 54 includes an upper loading platform 50 and an underlying frame 52 with the frame utilizing the bogey suspension system 60, as well as carrying auxiliary lift system 400 at the rearward end thereof for assisting in the initial lifting of the platform relative to the frame. Powered roller assemblies 100, 110, 120, and 130, composed of hollow drive shafts, may be conveniently assembled and disassembled from the underside of loading platform 50. A plurality of upwardly convex-shaped static slider elements 200 facilitate unidirectional movement of loads on the platform 50. At the forward end of the platform, a guard or side rail 316 is rotatable from a retracted position within the confines of a control platform 68 to a forwardly directed position toward the fuselage of the aircraft.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for receiving and sending a parcel delivered by a drone, including: a base assembly, configured to be mounted on a building, the base assembly including a platform, in which the platform includes a working surface capable of being horizontally placed; the working surface further includes an operating area for the drone to disengage or engage the parcel; and a barrier assembly, comprising a barrier plate movable with respect to the base assembly, in which in a horizontal state of the working surface, the barrier plate is enabled to be disposed close to an edge of the working surface and between the building and the operating area to separate the operating area from the other side of the barrier plate where the user stays.

Abstract: A system for assembling two parts, in particular parts forming the fuselage or the wings of an aircraft, includes a positioning aid guiding positioning tools so as to juxtapose the two parts at the level of an assembly zone. The assembly system further includes a set of eddy current sensors positioned in at least one of the two parts to determine the separation of the two parts at the level of the assembly zone. If the separation does not conform to a predetermined criterion the positioning tools move at least one of the parts.

Abstract: An electrical adapter for connecting a panel to a cabin management system for an aircraft, wherein the electrical adapter is configured to connect the cabin management system and the panel to one another, having at least one processor and a memory and also having at least one interface for the cabin management system and having at least one further interface, wherein the at least one further interface allows a data transfer to the panel and/or the cabin management system. Also, a display system is provided for an aircraft having a cabin management system, a panel for presenting information, wherein the panel comprises hardware and software for monitoring image information presented on the panel, and an electrical adapter for connecting the panel to the cabin management system.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for propeller balancing of an aircraft comprising a propeller. Acceleration data is obtained from an acceleration sensor coupled to the aircraft. The acceleration data is filtered using a filter to obtain propeller-specific vibration data, the filter defining a range of acceptable frequencies associated with a frequency of rotation of the propeller. The propeller-specific vibration data is compared to trend data associated with the propeller. When the propeller-specific vibration data differs from the trend data beyond a predetermined threshold, an alert indicative of a balancing need for the propeller is issued.

Abstract: A method for autonomously controlling electric power supplied to a thruster of a spacecraft during electric orbit raising includes determining a state of charge of a battery onboard the spacecraft at an entry into an eclipse during each orbit of a plurality of orbits during the electric orbit raising of the spacecraft. The method also includes determining an electric power level used to fire each thruster of a plurality of thrusters during each orbit beginning after the eclipse, based at least on the state of charge of the battery, and that will provide a shortest electric orbit raising duration and minimize thruster propellant usage during electric orbit raising.

Abstract: A method for providing optimized power balanced low thrust transfer orbits utilizing split thruster execution to minimize an electric orbit raising duration of an apparatus includes monitoring an electric power balance on the apparatus. The method also includes firing a first thruster in response to the apparatus exiting an eclipse and based on the electric power balance. The method additionally includes firing a second thruster at a predetermined time delay after firing the first thruster based on the electric power balance. The method additionally includes ending firing one of the first thruster or the second thruster after a predetermined time duration based on the electric power balance. The method further includes ending firing another of the first thruster or the second thruster in response to the apparatus entering a next eclipse.

Abstract: Various embodiments of space launch vehicle systems and associated methods of manufacture and use are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the systems include a reusable, horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing (HTHL), ground-assisted single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) spaceplane that is capable of providing frequent deliveries of people and/or cargo to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In some embodiments, the spaceplane can takeoff with the aid of a rocket-powered sled that, in addition to providing additional thrust for takeoff, can also provide propellant for the spaceplane engines during the takeoff run so that the spaceplane launches with full propellant tanks.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing optimized power balanced variable thrust transfer orbits to minimize an electric orbit raising duration is disclosed. The electric orbit raising includes a first transfer orbit and a target orbit. The apparatus includes control electronics configured to transfer to a second transfer orbit to reach the target orbit. A variable thrust based on a current electric power balance is determined. The control electronics are further configured to execute a maneuver to transfer from the first transfer orbit to the second transfer orbit according to the determined variable thrust and a predetermined maneuver plan. The predetermined maneuver plan includes a set of compound steering parameters. The set of compound steering parameters are based on an optimized variable thrust and an associated electrical power balance to the optimized variable thrust. An optimized series of transfer orbits minimizes the electric orbit raising duration.

Abstract: A method for autonomous control of electric power consumption by an apparatus includes monitoring electric power measurement data of electric power generated by a solar array of the apparatus. The solar array is configured to at least charge a battery and provide electrical power to components of the apparatus. The method also includes monitoring a state of charge of the battery and autonomously controlling electric power consumption of an integrated payload array in response to at least the state of charge of the battery. The state of charge of the battery is maintained proximate a preset threshold.