초록 ▼

An autopilot controller, for controlling a vehicle traveling in a fluid medium, designed for controlling the vehicle in any one of pre stall, stall and post stall regions. The autopilot controller provides an approach for one-to-one mapping between a target command which is received and control surf

An autopilot controller, for controlling a vehicle traveling in a fluid medium, designed for controlling the vehicle in any one of pre stall, stall and post stall regions. The autopilot controller provides an approach for one-to-one mapping between a target command which is received and control surface deflections for effecting the command based on vehicle normal force and vehicle moment response characteristics. In one embodiment, the autopilot controller determines linear functions representative of the vehicle dynamic response for the current operating conditions in order to determine a direction of change of fin deflection for effecting the command. In another embodiment, the autopilot controller controls transverse vehicle accelerations by controlling a body pitch moment generated by a control surface.

대표청구항 ▼

[ That which is claimed is:] [1.]1. An autopilot controller suitable for controlling a vehicle, traveling in a fluid medium, in response to a commanded maneuver, said controller being capable of controlling said vehicle in a pre-stall region, a stall region and a post-stall region, said vehicle havi

[ That which is claimed is:] [1.]1. An autopilot controller suitable for controlling a vehicle, traveling in a fluid medium, in response to a commanded maneuver, said controller being capable of controlling said vehicle in a pre-stall region, a stall region and a post-stall region, said vehicle having a control surface, said controller comprising:a storage device for storing data corresponding to a model of vehicle response characteristics, said model including vehicle response characteristics for said pre-stall region, said stall region and said post-stall region, said stored data corresponding to an amount of moment generated about a center of gravity of said vehicle as a function of possible vehicle operating conditions and possible deflections for said control surface;an input device for receiving at least one condition signal, each condition signal being representative of a current vehicle operating condition;an error signal generating device for generating, based on said at least one condition signal, an error signal indicative of a difference between said commanded maneuver and said at least one condition signal; anda determining device for determining, based on said stored data, said at least one condition signal, and said error signal, a deflection for said control surface which would currently be suitable to effect at least a portion of the commanded maneuver;wherein said commanded maneuver is a maneuver requiring a change in transverse acceleration of said vehicle, and wherein said determining device determines said deflection for said control surface so as to initially generate a moment about the center of gravity of the vehicle.