Patent ID: 8949090
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: B64C,G05D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for controlling a formation flight of a trailing aircraft relative to a vortex generated by a leading aircraft, comprising a position module configured to determine a position of the vortex relative to the trailing aircraft based on an estimate of wind conditions and an estimator state vector comprising a velocity of the leading aircraft and a relative position between the vortex and the trailing aircraft, the estimate of wind conditions being based on at least one air data measurement obtained by the leading aircraft and the estimator state vector being based on a first set of measurements, wherein the position module updates the estimator state vector based on a comparison between at least one actual measurement obtained by the trailing aircraft and the position of the vortex relative to the trailing aircraft determined by the position module, the at least one actual measurement differing from the first set of measurements; a desired position module configured to determine a desired position of the trailing aircraft relative to the vortex for providing desired vortex-induced aerodynamic benefits based on the position of the vortex; and a control module configured to control flight of the trailing aircraft based on the desired position of the trailing aircraft.