Patent ID: 9383756
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: B64C,G05D

Claim Text:
1. A method of using an automatic flight control system for a rotorcraft having an autopilot that generates commands in predefined operating modes, the commands causing a modification to the behavior of the rotorcraft relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y), the rotorcraft having manual control members to cause a modification to the behavior of the rotorcraft relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y), the method comprising: performing by the autopilot a path-maintaining function including at least one guide mode (G) of the autopilot for guiding the rotorcraft relative to at least one of the progression axes (P, R, V, Y) of the rotorcraft, in which the path-maintaining function includes receiving an acquisition request for a person to acquire at least one path setpoint defined by at least one flight parameter, each path setpoint relating to said at least one guide mode (G); as a result of the person driving at least one manual control member to cause a modification to the behavior of the rotorcraft relative to at least one progression axis (P, R, V, Y), generating by the autopilot: the path setpoints relating to the other guide modes (G) that have continued to be engaged and that relate to other progression axes (P, R, V, Y) being maintained in their states prior to said at least one manual control member being driven, and the commands generated by the autopilot relating to all of the progression axes that continue to be engaged being adapted by the autopilot depending on the current state of progression of the rotorcraft on the basis of said maintained path setpoints and on the basis of the acquired value of the at least one flight parameter for which said acquisition command was issued.