Self-contained avionics sensing and flight control system for small unmanned aerial vehicle

US7962252B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Qamar A. Shams · Yorktown, US
• Michael Logan · Rancho Santa Margarita, US
• Robert L. Fox · Hayes, US
• John C. Ingham · Alexandria, US
• Sean A. Laughter · Chester, US
• Theodore R. Kuhn, III · Fredericksburg, US
• James K. Adams · Gloucester Courthouse, US
• Walter C. Babel, III · Smithfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 8, 2006
• Grant date: Jun 14, 2011
• Expiry date: Jan 14, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/101
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A self-contained avionics sensing and flight control system is provided for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The system includes sensors for sensing flight control parameters and surveillance parameters, and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Flight control parameters and location signals are processed to generate flight control signals. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is configured to provide a look-up table storing sets of values with each set being associated with a servo mechanism mounted on the UAV and with each value in each set indicating a unique duty cycle for the servo mechanism associated therewith. Each value in each set is further indexed to a bit position indicative of a unique percentage of a maximum duty cycle for the servo mechanism associated therewith. The FPGA is further configured to provide a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) generators coupled to the look-up table. Each PWM generator is associated with and adapted to be coupled to one of the servo mechanisms.