Patent ID: 6246929
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
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:a storage device 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, said stored data corresponding to an amount of moment generated about a center of gravity of said vehicle as a function of possible vehicle operating conditions and possible deflections for said control surface;an input device for receiving at least one condition signal, each condition signal being representative of a current vehicle operating condition;an error signal generating device 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; anda determining device 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 said commanded maneuver is a maneuver requiring a change in transverse acceleration of said vehicle, and wherein said determining device determines said deflection for said control surface so as to initially generate a moment about the center of gravity of the vehicle.