Abstract: The weight-shift movements of a suspended pilot are transformed into electrical signals representative of the movements. The signals may be used as the pitch and roll input information in an interactive computerized flight simulation system. The signals may also be generated by an actual pilot of a hang glider or ultralight aircraft and used on board to control ailerons, elevators, rudders, or the like, so as to enhance the performance potentials of these types of aircraft.

Abstract: The throttle of an aircraft can be alternatively controlled either by a flight control computer or by the manual control of the pilot. A clutch is installed between the throttle control lever and a control input to the flight control computer which in the autothrottle mode of operation is engaged to enable control of the throttle by the flight control computer with the control lever being positioned in accordance with such control. When manual takeover of the throttle control is desired, a switch is actuated by the pilot which operates to disengage the clutch and thereby disconnects the control output of the computer from the lever so that only manual control is provided. A unique clutch mechanism is employed which utilizes a pair of locking wedges which operate in conjunction with a pair of rollers. The wedges and rollers are driven into engagement with each other by a solenoid, the opposing plates of the clutch being held in locking engagement through the intermediary provided by the wedges and rollers.

Abstract: A helicopter collective control stick having a pilot grip positioned by a linkage assembly whose kinematics permits the control stick to occupy a small envelope and to have the pilot grip motion to be about a large radius. Our collective stick includes a biasing member to balance the control stick and linkage in the mid collective position and which provides a force gradient when the control stick is moved from the mid collective or trimmed position. Further, our collective stick is operable in concert with the full authority side arm controller to operate in either a tracking or a command mode.

Abstract: Side stick controllers with isolated pitch and roll control movement may be mechanically linked. A control stick mechanism includes a hand-operated control member (10, 10') movable to swing about two axes of rotation (12, 14). A first lever member (16, 16') on the control member (10, 10') moves in response to swinging movement of the control member (10, 10') about a first axis of rotation (12). A reciprocating member (20) has a first portion (22) pivotally attached to the control member (10, 10') at a location (24) spaced from the second axis of rotation (14). The reciprocating member (20) has an elongated second portion (26) axially movable along a line of reciprocation substantially co-axial with the first axis of rotation (12) in response to swinging movement of the control member (10, 10') about the second axis of rotation (14).

Abstract: A hand controller which includes a hand grip having therein a gimble mechanism for allowing rotatory motion about three axes which intersect in the interior of the hand grip and from which motion transmitting members allow the motions about the three axes to be transmitted to remote pick off devices and also along which force feedback signals may be fedback to the gimble structure to provide the correct "feel" for the grip.

Abstract: Control apparatus comprises a throttle stick suitable for STOVL aircraft which incorporates vectorable nozzle control means with thrust demand, thus obviating the need for a separate control lever for controlling vectorable nozzles. A handle (10) rotates to pre-determined angular positions in response to operator-exerted pressure, said pressure being sensed by force transducers (7a, 7b) hence providing the operator with tactile feedback proportional to thrust demand. A control lever (2) attached to the handle (10) is pivotable about a hinge pin (8). Rotation of the lever (2) about the pin (8) is sensed by a potentiometer (9) whose output is used to control vectorable nozzles.

Abstract: A hand-held joystick has spaced-apart groups of accelerometers and is free to move or rotate on multiple axes. Each group has, for example, three mutually perpendicular accelerometers, with each one producing an electrical signal responsive to linear acceleration along one axis. The signals are combined to derive a definition of acceleration of the joystick along the three mutually perpendicular linear axes and/or rotation about these axes. The combined signal is used by an electrical control system which provides input to a device being controlled. The signal to the device under control is responsive to the motion of the joystick.

Abstract: A six-way foot control device has a toe portion pivotally mounted to a heel portion so that two directions of angular toe displacement may be realized about a neutral position. The heel portion is itself pivotally mounted to permit two directions of sideways angular displacement about a corresponding second neutral point. Finally, the foot control is slidably mounted to permit two directions of linear displacement about a third neutral point. Each direction of displacement is detected by a transducer and may control another function of an aircraft or vehicle.

Abstract: A helicopter programmable collective control system includes a motorized collective control stick 2 used in conjunction with a multi-axis control stick 30, with the multi-axis control stick 30 as the default collective controller. A collective control signal processor reads collective input the pilot is giving through one of the two control sticks 2, 30 and provides a motor drive signal 44 (which is dampened to prevent over control) to position the collective control stick 3. The collective control stick position is used to drive the rotor collective pitch actuators 16.

Abstract: A two-axis hand controller including a human interface to simulate feel parameters for use in a vehicle having a pitch axis and a roll axis. A hollow grip having a base end is connected to a swash plate through a rigid connecting member. A universal joint having a center shaft member rigidly affixed to a first support surface and having roll and pitch pivot axis members is attached within the center of the hollow grip so as to provide dual palm pivot points. The swash plate includes an opening positioned so as to accept the shaft member through the opening and into the hollow grip. The swash plate is also flexibly engaged to the first support surface so as to allow for control of the human interface feel parameters. Apparatus for transducing is attached between the swash plate and the base so as to provide electrical signals responsive to movements in the pitch and roll axes without cross-coupling from one axis to the other.

Abstract: A hand controller for a control system, such as a flight control system, includes a control grip and an support assembly for supporting an operator's forearm so that the operator's wrist joint and hand extend forwardly of the support assembly and the operator's hand is positioned to grip the control grip. The controller also includes roll, pitch and yaw gimbal components. The roll gimbal component is movable about a fore-and-aft extending roll axis defined along a base line of the operator's forearm. The pitch and yaw gimbal components are movable about respective side-to-side extending pitch and up-and-down extending yaw axes defined through the center of the operator's wrist joint in orthogonal relation to one another and to the roll axis. The roll, pitch and yaw gimbal components are coupled to one another and to the control grip in a given sequence for facilitating pivotal motion of the operator's hand about the roll, pitch and yaw axes to activate hand control functions with minimal forearm movement.

Abstract: Pilot workload is reduced in a helicopter having a force-type, multi-axis sidearm control stick by providing a displacement-type control stick for collective blade pitch control. Either stick may be used by the pilot. When the force-type stick is employed, a trim system causes the displacement-stick to track a collective position command signal which is provided to the blade actuators. Changeover of control to the displacement-type control stick is accomplished either with a switch, or by moving the collective-type control stick. The signals associated with each control stick are alternately faded in and out to assure a smooth transition when collective control is switched over from one to the other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a 6 degree of freedom hand controller. The hand controller includes a handgrip member which is substantially spherical in shape and which includes a point disposed substantially centrally of the member. An elongated shaft member supports the handgrip member such that the handgrip member is rotatable, from an initial position, about the point. The rotational motion of the handgrip member about the point is resolvable into motion about a pitch axis, passing through the point, a roll axis at right angles to the pitch axis and also passing through the point, and a yaw axis, at right angles to both the pitch axis and the roll axis and also passing through the point. The elongated shaft member is movably supported such that the handgrip member is movable, from the initial position, in translational motion resolvable into motion along the pitch, roll and yaw axes and through the point.

Abstract: A controller for producing electrical control signals has a relatively stationary supporting section providing an upwardly facing hand supporting surface and an upward projection, and has a stick-like control section mounted on a first gimbal joint on top of the projection, to swing about pitch and roll axes. A second gimbal joint is spaced along the roll axis from the first one and rotates about said roll axis and about a gimbal axis parallel to the pitch axis. A gimbal ring of the first joint is rigidly connected to a gimbal member of the second joint for unison rotation about the roll axis. A second gimbal member of the second joint is caused to rotate about said gimbal axis in unison with swinging of the control section about the pitch axis by a linkage connection between them. A signal generator for each of the pitch and roll axes and a stick force generating means for each of those axes are connected with respective gimbal members of the second joint.

Abstract: A pedal control assembly for a pilot station of an aircraft. The pedals are arranged in a module for linear sliding movement and position sensing members transmit appropriate signals to control components of the aircraft.

Abstract: A force control member assembly 1 comprises a force control member unit 2 carried by an intermediate member 3, the intermediate member 3 itself being attached to a fixed bracket 4 by pivot means 5 allowing resilient movement of the intermediate member 3 with respect to the fixed bracket 4 about pitch and roll axes as shown at 6. The force control member unit 2 includes a force control member and force transducer means associated therewith to generate force control signals related to control forces applied to the force control member. In use, when a control force is applied to the control member, a force control signal will be generated simultaneously with a significant displacement of the intermediate member with respect to the fixed member. The intermediate member will return to a median position on removal of a control force; this imparts a `feel` characteristic to the assembly.

Abstract: In combination with a control stick having a grip handle, a control stick force transducer includes a flexure means having a pair of parallel plates, one secured to the grip handle and one secured to the control stick and at least three compliant columns interconnecting said plates and forming at least three parallelograms disposed in vertical planes so that the one plate deflects relative to the other in accordance with rectilinear forces applied thereto but is insensitive to any moments applied thereto through the control handle. The force transducer further includes inductive pick-off means designed to be insensitive to moments applied to the handle about its vertical axis and a suspended mass and lever means pivoted relative to said columns so as to produce equal and opposite forces on the grip handle to compensate for the acceleration forces acting thereon.

Abstract: A plastic material, preferably polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film, made highly piezoelectric by known methods, is placed in a sensor unit structure wherein pressure is exerted against the piezoelectric film by means of rotation of the steering wheel of the boat or vehicle to thereby cause the piezoelectric film to generate electric signals which are used in controlling the rpm of a low-inertia, instantaneously reversible steering power assist motor. The rpm of the motor is substantially proportional to the input electric signals, which, in turn, are determined by, and responsive to, the degrees of rotation and speed of rotation of the steering wheel. The direction of rotation of the steering wheel determines the direction of steering assist, i.e., to the left or right. Available torque of the motor however is substantially inversely proportional to rpm of the engine propelling the boat or vehicle.

Abstract: A six-axes manipulator consists of a central tubular support 30 equipped with four bearings A, B, C, D at 90.degree. to each other, disposed in a plane XOY perpendicular to the axis ZZ' of the tubular support, a ring 110 with a diameter larger than that of a section of the tubular support, the ring carrying a gripping and control handle, and rigid and elastic means 120, 121, 122, 123 to support said ring on said tubular support, in such a manner that, at rest, said ring presents itself coaxially with said tubular support. Each bearing A, B, C, D is equipped with at least four force sensors.

Abstract: There is provided a single lever joystick having movement in X and Y directions and rotation about a further axis Z wherein axes X, Y and Z are substantially perpendicular. The joystick can be moved in all three senses at the same time. Movement of the joystick is resiliently restrained to a selected neutral position. Resiliency is obtained from substantially plate-like springy members to which are attached strain gauges. Each of the strain gauges is capable of producing a continuously variable electrical resistance output which is a function of the displacement of the joystick from its neutral position.