US 11,835,969 B2
System and method for the autonomous transition of an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft
Joshua E. Auerbach, Waterbury Center, VT (US); and Nicholas Moy, Burlington, VT (US)
Assigned to BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed by BETA AIR, LLC, South Burlington, VT (US)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/871,017.
Application 17/871,017 is a continuation of application No. 17/404,423, filed on Aug. 17, 2021, granted, now 11,435,762.
Prior Publication US 2023/0054436 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 17/00 (2019.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64D 27/24 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/102 (2013.01) [B64C 29/0025 (2013.01); B64D 27/24 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for flight control of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the system comprising:
a horizontal thrust component attached to an eVTOL aircraft;
a lift component attached to the eVTOL aircraft;
a pilot override switch, wherein the pilot override switch is operable by a pilot of the eVTOL aircraft and is configured to alter control of the eVTOL aircraft; and
a flight controller communicatively connected to the pilot override switch, wherein the flight controller is configured to:
initiate autonomous flight of the eVTOL;
identify a flight transition point;
initiate operation of the horizontal thrust component as a function of the flight transition point;
adjust an attitude of the eVTOL aircraft by modulating at least a control surface;
initiate modulation of the lift component; and
receive a pilot override signal from the pilot override switch, wherein the pilot override signal transitions the eVTOL from the autonomous flight to full control by the pilot.