초록 ▼

This invention is an aircraft orientation system that locates the earth's horizon, in order to determine the aircraft's attitude in the pitch and roll axes. The invention uses infrared sensors on the aircraft aimed to the sides, front and rear of the aircraft. These sensors are grouped in pairs, and

This invention is an aircraft orientation system that locates the earth's horizon, in order to determine the aircraft's attitude in the pitch and roll axes. The invention uses infrared sensors on the aircraft aimed to the sides, front and rear of the aircraft. These sensors are grouped in pairs, and detect the differences in heat levels between the left and right of the aircraft, and forward and behind the aircraft. The invention utilizes the physical condition that the earth's surface is typically measurably warmer than the sky. This difference is used to provide a reference for an aircraft regarding the attitude of the aircraft. In an alternative embodiment, a third pair of sensors detects the aircraft's vertical orientation (inverted/non-inverted) to the ground. The aircraft's attitude is determined by comparing the electrical outputs of infrared sensors, which can be used to provide a feedback to the aircraft control system to keep the aircraft in a neutral attitude. While this invention may have applications in a variety of aircraft, the preferred embodiment is described in radio controlled model airplanes and helicopters.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An aircraft orientation sensing device comprising:a means for detecting an aircraft's attitude with respect to the Earth's surface;said means for detection comprising at least two horizontal infrared light sensors;each of said at least two horizontal infrared light sensors being mou

[ I claim:] [1.] An aircraft orientation sensing device comprising:a means for detecting an aircraft's attitude with respect to the Earth's surface;said means for detection comprising at least two horizontal infrared light sensors;each of said at least two horizontal infrared light sensors being mounted to said aircraft;each of said at least two horizontal infrared light sensors including a first horizontal sensor and a second horizontal sensor spatially oriented to detect different fields of view;said first horizontal sensor and said second horizontal sensor each including an infrared light receptor and an electrical output means;each of said horizontal sensor electrical output means generating a horizontal electrical output correlating to the level of infrared light received by said first horizontal sensor and said second horizontal sensor; andhorizontal comparator means for electrically processing said horizontal electrical outputs from said first horizontal sensor and said second horizontal sensor to electrically represent said aircraft's attitude with respect to the Earth's surface.