Patent ID: 8311687
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
1. A control system for controlling a flight path of a vehicle, said system comprising: an input device configured to receive a speed margin value for the vehicle; a processor communicatively coupled to said input device, said processor programmed to: receive a speed target value, the speed target value representing a desired vehicle speed along the fight path; generate a thrust control signal using the speed target value; automatically determine a flight path of the vehicle that is shallower than an idle flight path for the vehicle using the thrust control signal, during a descent path an amount of thrust is determined using:  where generate a flight control surface control signal configured to maintain the determined flight path using the received speed margin; and an output device communicatively coupled to said processor, said output device is configured to transmit the flight control surface control signal to a flight control system of the vehicle.