Inceptor and method for operating an inceptor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355251-A1
Application number	US-201414901747-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2013
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An inceptor apparatus ( 10 ) for controlling a vehicle, in particular an aircraft comprises a control stick ( 15 ) for operation by a user and a user feedback generator ( 28 ) coupled to the control stick and configured to receive signals from a vehicle condition indicator ( 40 ) remote from the inceptor apparatus. The apparatus also has a first vehicle condition sensor ( 54,56 ) dedicated to the operation of the inceptor apparatus. In a first mode of operation, the user feedback generator ( 28 ) is operable to generate tactile feedback to the user via the control stick in dependence upon signals received from the vehicle condition indicator ( 40 ). In a second mode of operation, in the event that no signal is received from the vehicle condition indicator ( 40 ), the user feedback generator ( 28 ) is operable to generate tactile feedback to the user via the control stick in dependence upon signals received from the first vehicle condition sensor ( 54,56 ).

First claim

1 . An inceptor apparatus for controlling a vehicle, comprising:
a control stick for operation by a user; a user feedback generator coupled to the control stick and configured to receive signals from a vehicle condition indicator remote from the inceptor apparatus; and a first vehicle condition sensor dedicated to the operation of the inceptor apparatus; wherein in a first mode of operation, the user feedback generator is operable to generate tactile feedback to the user via the control stick in dependence upon signals received from the vehicle condition indicator; and wherein in a second mode of operation, in the event that no signal is received from the vehicle condition indicator, the user feedback generator is operable to generate tactile feedback to the user via the control stick in dependence upon signals received from the first vehicle condition sensor.

2 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further configured such that, in a third mode of operation, the user feedback generator provides no feedback to the user.

3 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second modes of operation correspond to a vehicle condition which requires the user's input.

4 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the third mode of operation corresponds to a vehicle condition in which the vehicle is being computer operated without the need for user intervention.

5 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first vehicle condition sensor is configured to generate and deliver a signal indicative of at least one of vehicle attitude and/or vehicle speed.

6 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the second mode of operation, the user feedback generator generates tactile feedback to the user via the control stick in dependence also upon signals received from a second vehicle condition sensor, wherein the first vehicle condition sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of vehicle attitude and the second vehicle condition sensor is configured to generate and deliver a signal indicative of vehicle speed.

7 . A vehicle control system comprising an inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 1 .

8 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and the vehicle condition indicator is a flight control computer (FCC) configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one of vehicle attitude and vehicle speed for the operation of the aircraft.

9 . A method of operating an inceptor apparatus for a vehicle, the method comprising:
determining if the vehicle is operating normally; in the event that the vehicle is operating normally. providing tactile feedback to the user via a control stick coupled to a user feedback generator in dependence upon signals received from a vehicle condition indicator remote from the inceptor apparatus; and in the event that insufficient signal data is received from the vehicle condition indicator, providing tactile feedback to the user via the control stick coupled to the user feedback generator in dependence upon signals from a vehicle condition sensor dedicated to the inceptor apparatus.

10 . A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising:
in response to the vehicle being computer operated without the need for user intervention, providing no tactile feedback to the user via the control stick coupled to the user feedback generator.

11 . A method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:
providing tactile feedback to the user via the control stick coupled to the user feedback generator in dependence upon signals from a second vehicle condition sensor; wherein the first vehicle condition sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of one of vehicle attitude or vehicle speed, and the second vehicle condition sensor is configured to generate and deliver a signal indicative of the other one of vehicle attitude or vehicle speed.

12 . A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and the vehicle condition indicator is a flight control computer (FCC) configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one of vehicle attitude and vehicle speed for the operation of the aircraft.

13 . An inceptor apparatus for controlling an aircraft, comprising:
a user control stick; a first vehicle condition sensor; and a user feedback generator coupled to the control stick and including an actuator, wherein:
in a first mode of operation, the user feedback generator is operable to generate tactile feedback via the control stick in dependence upon signals received from an aircraft condition indicator remote; and
in a second mode of operation, in the event that insufficient signal data is received from the aircraft condition indicator, the user feedback generator is operable to generate tactile feedback via the control stick in dependence upon signals received from the first vehicle condition sensor.

14 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further configured such that, in a third mode of operation, the user feedback generator provides no feedback, wherein the third mode of operation corresponds to an aircraft condition in which the aircraft is being computer operated without the need for user intervention.

15 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first and second modes of operation correspond to an aircraft condition which requires pilot input.

16 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first vehicle condition sensor is configured to generate and deliver a signal indicative of at least one of vehicle attitude and vehicle speed.

17 . An inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein, in the second mode of operation, the user feedback generator generates tactile feedback to the user via the control stick in dependence also upon signals received from a second vehicle condition sensor, wherein the first vehicle condition sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of one of aircraft attitude or aircraft speed, and the second vehicle condition sensor is configured to generate and deliver a signal indicative of the other one of aircraft attitude or aircraft speed.

18 . An aircraft control system comprising an inceptor apparatus as claimed in claim 13 .

19 . An aircraft control system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the aircraft condition indicator is a flight control computer (FCC) configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one of vehicle attitude and vehicle speed for the operation of the aircraft.

20 . An aircraft control system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the flight control computer (FCC) is further configured to receive data from one or more additional sensors.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Davies Robin William

Classifications

• B64C13/10 Primary

  comprising warning devices · CPC title

• B64C13/22

  readily revertible to personal control · CPC title

• B64C13/0421 Primary

  control sticks for primary flight controls · CPC title