FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A HYBRID AIRCRAFT IN A TRANSITION REGION

摘要

A flight control system (24) includes a blending algorithm (74) which evaluates the current flight regime and determines the effectiveness of the flight controls to effect the rotational moment of a hybrid vehicle about the pitch axis. Gain schedules for both pitch cyclic and elevator control provide a quantitative measure of control effectiveness. Based on the respective gain schedules, the algorithm determines how much of the control commands should be sent to each control surface. The result is that for a given control command, the same amount of pitch moment will be generated regardless of flight regime. A lift control algorithm selectively communicates with the pitch command of the flight system control algorithm. The lift control algorithm selects the proper control commands to coordinate an effective transition between hover and forward flight. The most efficient vehicle pitch during transition is thereby automatically generated so that sufficient lift and control throughout the transition between rotor borne and wing borne flight.