Patent ID: 6236914
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
An autopilot controller suitable for controlling a vehicle, traveling in a fluid medium, in response to a commanded maneuver, said controller being capable of controlling said vehicle in a pre-stall region, a stall region and a post-stall region, said vehicle having a control surface, said controller comprising:means for storing data corresponding to a model of vehicle response characteristics, said model including vehicle response characteristics for said pre-stall region, said stall region and said post-stall region;means for receiving at least one condition signal, each condition signal being representative of a current vehicle operating condition;means for generating, based on said at least one condition signal, an error signal indicative of a difference between said commanded maneuver and said at least one condition signal; anddetermining means for determining, based on said stored data, said at least one condition signal, and said error signal, a deflection for said control surface which would currently be suitable to effect at least a portion of the commanded maneuver;wherein, in the case of a commanded maneuver for which any one of a plurality of deflections for said control surface would currently be suitable to effect at least a portion of the commanded maneuver, said determning means determines only one of said plurality of currently suitable deflections for said control surface to effect at least a portion of the commanded maneuver.