Patent ID: 7108232
Filing Date: 2006-09-19
Classification: B64C,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A force-feel system for providing tactile feedback to a cockpit-flight-controller mechanically coupled to a control surface in a helicopter which does not require apparatus to be inserted into a break in an existing flight control system and which does not require a mechanical spring and a trim-motor, thereby reducing the weight and cost of a force-feel system and making it practical to implement a force-feel system and a stability augmentation system in light-weight helicopters, the system comprising: a feedback loop around a cockpit-flight-controller, the feedback loop configured to apply a force to the cockpit-flight-controller proportional to a deflection of the cockpit-flight-controller from a first position, the feedback loop including: a position sensor configured to measure a second position of the cockpit-flight-controller; a flight control device coupled to the position sensor, the flight control device configured to calculate the deflection and to determine the force based on a shaping function; and a servo-actuator mechanically connected to and in parallel with a flight control system, the servo-actuator configured to apply the force to the cockpit-flight-controller and to be back-driven by the cockpit-flight-controller.