Patent ID: 6793176
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
A catapult launch control system for an air vehicle having a flight control system, said catapult launch control system comprising:an inertial sensor system adapted to provide a vertical rate of said air vehicle and a forward acceleration of said air vehicle; an altitude hold control loop adapted to receive an altitude command and an altitude of said air vehicle to generate a vertical rate command; a vertical rate control loop adapted to receive said vertical rate command and said vertical rate of said air vehicle and adapted to generate a vertical rate loop vertical acceleration command; a constant throttle airspeed hold control loop adapted to receive an airspeed command, an airspeed of said air vehicle, and said forward acceleration of said air vehicle and adapted to generate a constant throttle airspeed hold vertical acceleration command; and a vertical acceleration command select loop adapted to select one of said vertical rate loop vertical acceleration command or said constant throttle airspeed hold vertical acceleration command to provide a selected vertical acceleration command; wherein said flight control system drives said air vehicle to said selected vertical acceleration command.