Patent ID: 9725161
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: B64C,Y02T

Claim:
1. An improved method for controlling and optimizing traction during ground travel under a plurality of ground travel conditions in aircraft driven autonomously without reliance on aircraft engines and brakes, comprising: a. mounting non-engine drive means controllable to power and direct torque through an aircraft drive wheel and move the aircraft during ground travel within one or more landing gear drive wheels and tires on the landing gear drive wheels in contact with an aircraft ground travel surface; b. as the aircraft is driven on the ground travel surface under one or more of the plurality of ground travel conditions by controlling the non-engine drive means to power and direct torque through the landing gear drive wheels, directly or indirectly obtaining speed and torque information comprising a ground speed of the aircraft, a speed or torque of the non-engine drive means-powered landing gear drive wheels, and a speed of one or more components that rotate with a speed proportional to aircraft speed; c. processing the obtained speed and torque information and controlling the non-engine drive means in response to processed speed and torque information indicating slipping or skidding of one or more of the non-engine drive means-powered landing gear drive wheels to adjust drive torque directed to the slipping or skidding drive wheels as required, and maintaining speed of the one or more non-engine drive means-powered landing gear drive wheels in an optimal traction condition for the one or more of the plurality of ground travel conditions; and d. maintaining said optimal traction condition during aircraft ground travel within an optimal traction range corresponding to at least an area near a peak on a mu-slip curve representing maximum traction efficiency for movement of a non-engine drive means-powered landing gear drive wheel on the ground travel surface.