US 11,673,649 B2
Aircraft control system and method
Blake W. English, Santa Cruz, CA (US); James W. Denham, Santa Cruz, CA (US); and Justin D. Paines, Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Assigned to Joby Aero, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Filed by Joby Aero, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/340,476.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/035,416, filed on Jun. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0380223 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B64C 13/04 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); B64C 13/50 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 13/0421 (2018.01) [B64C 13/503 (2013.01); G05D 1/0016 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for receiving inputs from a user for a fly-by-wire (FBW) aircraft, the system comprising:
an inceptor mount defining a neutral position, a base plane, and a plurality of primary axes comprising a twist axis orthogonal to the base plane;
a grip connected to the inceptor mount at a first end, a length of the grip extending from the first end to a distal end;
for each primary axis:
a passive force-feedback mechanism mechanically coupled to the inceptor mount about the primary axis, the passive force-feedback mechanism configured to provide varying displacement resistance based on a departure of the grip from the neutral position along the primary axis; and
a sensor coupled to the inceptor mount and configured to determine an input along the axis based on the departure;
a hand rest adjustably connected to the grip and comprising a dorsal flange, the dorsal flange extending from a nadir section of the hand rest away from the base plane, wherein the hand rest is anticlastic and wherein the hand rest is configured to engage an ulnar border of a hand of the user while a plurality of fingers of the hand grasp the grip and a dorsal side of the hand contacts the dorsal flange; and
a plurality of input components mounted to the grip proximal to the distal end.