Automated self-testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019389595-A1
Application number	US-201916355542-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 15, 2019
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Dec 26, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flight-time variable associated with an aircraft is determined including by determining the flight-time variable while the aircraft is flying. It is determined whether the aircraft is airworthy based at least in part on the flight-time variable. In response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy, the aircraft is automatically landed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a processor; and a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to:
determine a flight-time variable associated with an aircraft, including by determining the flight-time variable while the aircraft is performing a takeoff;
determine whether the aircraft is airworthy based at least in part on the flight-time variable; and
in response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy, restrict pilot control of the aircraft.

2 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the flight-time variable includes one or more of the following: a payload-inclusive weight, a center of mass of the aircraft when occupied, environmental information, weather information, an amount of precipitation, a temperature, a wind speed, or an air density.

3 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
determining whether the aircraft is airworthy includes:
comparing the flight-time variable to a first threshold; and
comparing the flight-time variable to a second threshold, wherein:
the first threshold is less than the second threshold;
it is determined that the aircraft is marginally airworthy in response to determining that the flight-time variable exceeds the first threshold and does not exceed the second threshold; and
it is determined that the aircraft is not airworthy in response to determining that the flight-time variable exceeds the second threshold;

automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy includes automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the flight-time variable exceeds the second threshold; and the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to: in response to determining that the aircraft is marginally airworthy, configure the aircraft with a set of one or more constrained settings.

4 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the flight-time variable includes a payload-inclusive weight; determining the payload-inclusive weight includes:
obtaining a thrust associated with a rotor while the aircraft is flying; and
determining the payload-inclusive weight based at least in part on the thrust;
determining whether the aircraft is airworthy includes comparing the payload-inclusive weight to a weight threshold; and automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy includes automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the payload-inclusive weight exceeds the weight threshold.

5 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the flight-time variable includes a payload-inclusive weight; determining the payload-inclusive weight includes obtaining a thrust associated with a rotor while the aircraft is flying and determining the payload-inclusive weight based at least in part on the thrust; determining whether the aircraft is airworthy includes:
comparing the payload-inclusive weight to a first weight threshold; and
comparing the payload-inclusive weight to a second weight threshold, wherein the first weight threshold is less than the second weight threshold;
automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy includes automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the payload-inclusive weight exceeds the second weight threshold; and the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to: in response to determining that the aircraft is marginally airworthy, configure the aircraft with a set of one or more constrained settings, wherein it is determined that the aircraft is marginally airworthy in response to determining that the payload-inclusive weight exceeds the first weight threshold and does not exceed the second weight threshold.

6 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the flight-time variable includes a payload-inclusive center of gravity; determining the payload-inclusive center of gravity includes:
obtaining a thrust associated with a rotor while the aircraft is flying; and
determining the payload-inclusive center of gravity based at least in part on the thrust;
determining whether the aircraft is airworthy includes comparing the payload-inclusive center of gravity to a center of gravity threshold represented by a three-dimensional (3D) shape; and automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy includes automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the payload-inclusive center of gravity exceeds the center of gravity threshold represented by the 3D shape.

7 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the flight-time variable includes a payload-inclusive center of gravity; determining the payload-inclusive center of gravity includes:
obtaining a thrust associated with a rotor while the aircraft is flying; and
determining the payload-inclusive center of gravity based at least in part on the thrust;
determining the payload-inclusive center of gravity includes:
comparing the payload-inclusive center of gravity to a first center of gravity threshold represented by a first three-dimensional (3D) shape; and
comparing the payload-inclusive center of gravity to a second center of gravity threshold represented by a second 3D shape, wherein the first center of gravity threshold is less than the second center of gravity threshold;
automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy includes automatically landing the aircraft in response to determining that the payload-inclusive center of gravity exceeds the second center of gravity threshold; and the memory is further configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to: in response to determining that the aircraft is marginally airworthy, configure the aircraft with a set of one or more reduced settings, wherein it is determined that the aircraft is marginally airworthy in response to determining that the payload-inclusive center of gravity exceeds the first center of gravity threshold and does not exceed the second center of gravity threshold.

8 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the flight-time variable includes environmental information; and determining the environmental information includes communicating over a wireless channel with a local weather station.

9 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the flight-time variable includes environmental information; and determining the environmental information includes sending, via a wireless channel to a remote server, location information of the aircraft and receiving, via the wireless channel from the remote server, the environmental information in response to the location information.

10 . A method, comprising:
determining a flight-time variable associated with an aircraft, including by determining the flight-time variable while the aircraft is performing a takeoff; determining whether the aircraft is airworthy based at least in part on the flight-time variable; and in response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy, restricting pilot control of the aircraft.

11 . The method recited in claim 10 , wherein the flight-time variable includes one or more of the following: a payload-inclusive weight, a center of mass of the aircraft when occupied, environmental information, weather information, an amount of precipitation, a temperature, a wind speed, or an air density.

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Selwa Alexander David
• Cutler Mark Johnson

Classifications

• G07C5/0841

  Registering performance data (recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B) · CPC title

• B64D45/00 Primary

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D2045/0085

  Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration · CPC title

• G07C5/008

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• B64F5/60

  Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems · CPC title