Tactile cueing apparatus

摘要

A tactile cueing apparatus for incorporation in an aircraft flight control system comprising a flight control surface, and a pilots inceptor (12) for moving the surface via a servo-assisted mechanical linkage (28) connecting the inceptor to the control surface, the apparatus comprising a force sensor for sensing a force applied to the inceptor by the pilot to move the control surface, an electromechanical actuator (34) configured to be installed with the mechanical linkage between the inceptor and means in the system providing said servo-assistance, and control means programmed to cause the actuator (i) to move so that the linkage moves to a position determined by said force according to a predetermined relationship, (ii) to apply to the inceptor a resisting force according to a predetermined relationship and which when the linkage has moved to its commanded position is equal and opposite to the force sensed by the force sensor.

主权项

1. A tactile cueing apparatus to augment an aircraft control system, the aircraft control system comprising a controlled element and an operator's inceptor for moving the controlled element via a mechanical linkage connected to the inceptor and linked to the controlled element, wherein the tactile cueing apparatus comprises:
a force sensor for sensing a control input to the inceptor by the operator to move the mechanical linkage, the force sensor providing an output; a controllable actuator arranged to be configured to move the mechanical linkage; a position sensor for sensing a position of the mechanical linkage, the position sensor providing an output; and control means programmed to cause the actuator, based upon a predetermined force-position relationship that defines a required effect upon the position of the mechanical linkage for a given combination of a force as sensed by the force sensor and a generated resisting force, to: (i) move the mechanical linkage to a position determined by the output of the force sensor and the force-position relationship, wherein the actuator moves the mechanical linkage when the output of the position sensor does not conform to a given position indicated by the force-position relationship at a given input force applied to the inceptor; and (ii) apply to the inceptor the generated resisting force determined by the output of the position sensor and the force-position relationship wherein the generated resisting force is equal and opposite to the force applied to the inceptor by the operator when the mechanical linkage has moved to a position determined by the force sensor output according to the force-position relationship.