Automated self-testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025346362-A1
Application number	US-202519206922-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 13, 2025
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Nov 13, 2025
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 flying, wherein the flight-time variable includes a payload-inclusive weight and one or more of the following: a wind speed or a wind direction;
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, automatically land the aircraft.

2 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the flight-time variable further includes one or is more of the following: a center of mass of the aircraft when occupied, environmental information, weather information, an amount of precipitation, a temperature, 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 variable threshold; and
comparing the flight-time variable to a second variable threshold, wherein:
the first variable threshold is less than the second variable threshold;
it is determined that the aircraft is marginally airworthy in response to determining that the flight-time variable exceeds the first variable threshold and does not exceed the second variable threshold; and
it is determined that the aircraft is not airworthy in response to

determining that the flight-time variable exceeds the second variable 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 variable 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:
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 flight-time variable to a variable 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 flight-time variable exceeds the variable threshold.

5 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein:
determining the payload-inclusive weight includes obtaining a thrust associated with a is 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 flight-time variable to a first variable threshold; and
comparing the flight-time variable to a second variable threshold, wherein the first variable threshold is less than the second variable 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 variable 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 flight-time variable exceeds the first variable threshold and does not exceed the second variable threshold.

6 . 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.

7 . 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.

8 . A method, comprising:
determining a flight-time variable associated with an aircraft, including by determining the flight-time variable while the aircraft is flying, wherein the flight-time variable includes a payload-inclusive weight and one or more of the following: a wind speed or a wind direction; determining whether the aircraft is airworthy based at least in part on the flight-time variable; and is in response to determining that the aircraft is not airworthy, automatically landing the aircraft.

9 . The method recited in claim 8 , wherein the flight-time variable further includes one or more of the following: a center of mass of the aircraft when occupied, environmental information, weather information, an amount of precipitation, a temperature, or an air density.

10 . The method recited in claim 8 , wherein:
determining whether the aircraft is airworthy includes:
comparing the flight-time variable to a first variable threshold; and
comparing the flight-time variable to a second variable threshold, wherein:
the first variable threshold is less than the second variable threshold;
it is determined that the aircraft is marginally airworthy in response to determining that the flight-time variable exceeds the first variable threshold and does not exceed the second variable threshold; and
it is determined that the aircraft is not airworthy in response to determining that the flight-time variable exceeds the second variable 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 variable threshold; and the method further includes: in response to determining that the aircraft is marginally airworthy, configure the aircraft with a set of one or more constrained settings.

11 . The method recited in claim 8 , wherein:
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 flight-time variable to a variable 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 flight-time variable exceeds the variable threshold.

12 . The method recited in claim 8 , wherein:
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 flight-time variable to a first variable threshold; and
comparing the flight-time variable to a second variable threshold, wherein the first variable threshold is less than the second variable threshold;
automatic

Assignees

• Kitty Hawk Corp

Inventors

• Selwa Alexander David
• Cutler Mark Johnson

Classifications

• G05D1/495

  to ensure stability · CPC title

• G07C5/0841

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

• G07C5/008

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

• G07C5/0808 Primary

  Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005) · CPC title

• B64D2045/0085

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