CONTROL SYSTEM

摘要

Disclosure 245-79-0030 A control system directs an aircraft along a predetermined curvilinear descent path (10). The aircraft carries a plurality of sensors, for example, an altitude sensor. The system has a longitudinal device (64) responsive to at least one of these sensors for providing a longitudinal signal related to longitudinal displacement of the aircraft. The system also has a height device (26) responsive to the longitudinal signal for producing a height signal functionally related to the altitude required to follow the path. Also, a command subsystem (36) responds to the height signal and a given one of the sensors to produce an error signal bearing a predetermined relation to the extent of deviation from the descent path. In one embodiment dispersion otherwise occurring during a flare maneuver is reduced by definitively directing the aircraft onto a specific path such as a circular arc. Such a control system may employ an aircraft motion monitoring system (Figure 4) having a descending subsystem (86) responsive to at least one of the aircraft sensors for producing a descent signal signifying aircraft descent rate. Also included is an altitude differentiating device (80) for differentiating the output of the altitude sensor. Also a transfer subsystem (98, 100) produces a signal, controlling influence in its production being transferred from the descending subsystem to the altitude differentiating device in response to arrival of the aircraft at a predetermined position. The control system preferably employs another motion monitoring system (Figures 3 or 5) having a velocity sensing device (74, 112) providing a velocity signal signifying ground Disclosure 245-79-0030 speed and a travel integrating device (62) for integrating the output of a longitudinal acceleration sensor carried by the aircraft. A feedback device (72) is coupled around the travel integrating device. This feedback device has a combinational subsystem (70, 68) responsive to the longitudinal acceleration sensor and the velocity signal for driving the travel integrating device. The foregoing motion monitoring systems can be highly reliable and can produce initial conditions which reduce transients.