| Calspan Corporation Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
| 20090222148 | Autonomous Outer Loop Control of Man-Rated Fly-By-Wire Aircraft - The present invention is directed to a system for converting a man-rated fly-by-wire (FBW) aircraft into a remote controlled unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV). The FBW aircraft includes a FBW flight control system (FBW-FCS) configured to control aircraft control surfaces disposed on the aircraft. The system includes a controller coupled to the FBW aircraft. The controller is configured to generate substantially real-time pilot control data from at least one aircraft maneuver command. The real-time pilot control data is generated in accordance with a predetermined control law. The at least one aircraft maneuver command is derived from at least one command telemetry signal received from a remote control system not disposed on the FBW aircraft or from a pre-programmed trajectory. An FBW-FCS interface system is coupled to the controller. The FBW-FCS interface system is configured to convert the substantially real-time pilot control data into substantially real-time simulated FBW-FCS pilot control signals. The substantially real-time simulated FBW-FCS pilot control signals are configured to direct the FBW-FCS such that the FBW aircraft performs in accordance with the at least one aircraft maneuver command. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090012657 | AUTONOMOUS OUTER LOOP CONTROL OF MAN-RATED FLY-BY-WIRE AIRCRAFT - The present invention is directed to a control system for use on a fly-by-wire (FBW) aircraft. The system includes a controller coupled to the FBW aircraft. The controller is configured to generate a plurality of simulated pilot control signals from at least one aircraft maneuver command. The plurality of simulated pilot control signals are generated in accordance with a predetermined control law. The at least one aircraft maneuver command is derived from at least one command telemetry signal received from a remote control system not disposed on the FBW aircraft. The plurality of simulated pilot control signals are configured to direct the FBW aircraft to perform an aircraft maneuver in accordance with the at least one aircraft maneuver command. | 01-08-2009 |