Flight Control through Vectored Propulsion

摘要

Applying a systems engineering approach to the objective of increasing an aircraft's aerodynamic efficiency allows the consideration of systems beyond its power plant. Advances in processor speeds and the application of sensor fusion opens the potential for identifying solutions in other key areas of aircraft design such as controls. Using aerodynamics concepts similar to helicopter flight, directional control in fixed wing aircraft can be accomplished using vectored thrust by independently varying the propeller blade pitch throughout each rotation. This new paradigm in aircraft control offers the potential for reducing energy consumption, increasing safety margins and reducing the carbon footprint of the air industry. Beyond these advantages, using highly reliable computerized systems would allow for faster wing designs and maneuvering improvements. Furthermore, the benefits of utilizing this same approach on electric airplanes and UAVs will also be explored.