Systems and methods are disclosed to transport a common load attached by slings by two or more Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft using synchronized maneuvering and load feedback control. In one embodiment, a system includes: a unit configured to direct the load operation with macro level commands input by a system operator; a unit, on each aircraft, configured to estimate its state; a unit configured to measure the sling load forces on each aircraft; a unit configured to release the load from the aircraft; a unit configured to allow all aircraft to share their load data and aircraft state data; a computing system on each aircraft with access to the shared data and the ability to control the aircraft control effectors and sling release mechanism; and a computing unit configured to execute a Guidance & Navigation system (or equivalent) and a Multi-Lift Autonomous Flight Control System (MLAFCS) with Multi-Lift Synchronized Maneuvering, Load Distribution Regulation, and Load Swing Feedback (or equivalent) on the aforementioned computing unit.
Aircraft Multi-Lift System with Synchronized Maneuvering and Load Feedback Control
2022-12-08
Patent
Electronic Resource
English