A New Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) for Eurocopter's Helicopters

摘要

In 1994, Eurocopter in cooperation with Thales Avionics and Sagem Industries launched a "New Avionics" concept aiming to provide a cutting-edge technology solution to the expanding needs of helicopter operations. This programme resulted in a concept of modular equipment, successfully developed and certified, for single pilot Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations on the EC135, EC145 and EC 155 helicopters. This paper presents the "Avionique Nottvelle" AFCS concept with applications to the newly IFR-certified EC145 and EC155 helicopters. It will be seen that safe flight is guaranteed using a carefully selected hardware architecture, in combination with multiple flight envelope protections implemented in the control laws software. Special attention is paid on the AFCS modular architecture and on the advanced software functions, which drastically reduce pilot's workload and expand the operational limits of the AFCS-controlled helicopters. The growth potential of such AFCS structure is big and it allows easily to integrate additional new functions from research activities ― e.g. vertical navigation coupled modes or Differential Global Position System (DGPS)-based approaches.