Patent ID: 11972692
Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 6:
7. An unmanned aircraft comprising a vehicle management system (VMS), the unmanned aircraft comprising:
one or more components configured to assist in operating the unmanned aircraft;
one or more sensors configured to detect real-time operational variables affecting the unmanned aircraft, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a pitch angle sensor configured to provide sensor data indicating a change in a pitch angle of the unmanned aircraft;
one or more processors comprising the VMS that are operable to receive statistical data regarding failure of the one or more components from a remote database, further operable to receive the real-time operational data from the one or more sensors, and further operable to access a flight plan comprising identified critical elements along the flight plan;
wherein the VMS is operable to, upon approaching a critical element, calculate a state health assessment, the state health assessment calculated by:
calculating a component failure rate for each of the one or more components using the statistical data;
analyzing the real-time operational data to determine if it mandates an adjustment to the component failure rates;
adjusting the component failure rates if mandated by the real-time operational data;
multiplying the adjusted component failure rates to give a net failure probability rate; and
diagnosing that the change in the pitch angle is caused by a partial or whole loss of power in a rotor assembly comprising the unmanned aircraft

the VMS further operable to compare the net failure probability rate to an accepted probability, and if the net failure probability rate fails to satisfy the accepted probability, activate a contingency plan and then return to the flight plan after the contingency plan, and if the net failure probability rate satisfies the accepted failure probability, continue the flight plan.