Flight Control System - Scenario Part 1

The Controller Computer commands vehicle direction and velocity and payload orientation if necessary. It does not command vehicle attitude.

When the Controller Computer demands a direction that requires a vertical velocity, the hub Perturbation Computer demands lift from the blades. The Blade Computers respond by starting their engines.

During engine start, the engines are temporarily held in horizontal orientation until their vane can maintain that orientation. This can be achieved with an electrical-mechanical lock on the blade leading edge tube, or a pendulum balance that changes the center of gravity of the engine, such that it is horizontal when there is no blade rotation, and moves the engine center of gravity up to the engine-nacelle and vane pivot axis as blade rotation increases. The engines communicate with each other to maintain equal thrust.

With a momentary request for a vertical velocity, the vehicle remains at ground elevation, and the hub Level Flight Computer demands different amounts of lift from the Blade Computers as the blades rotate about the hub for pitch and roll control only as necessary to level the hub, according to its attitude control system. The Blade Computers respond by adjusting blade camber for optimum lift given the pressure distribution on the blade surfaces* and the demands of the Level Flight Computer.

* Note: An Incremental Lift approach is an alternative to a sensor-based system.