US 11,919,621 B2
Decoupled hand controls for aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing and forward flight capabilities
Alexander David Selwa, San Francisco, CA (US); Todd Reichert, Mountain View, CA (US); and Mark Johnson Cutler, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Kitty Hawk Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/343,384.
Application 17/343,384 is a continuation of application No. 16/165,959, filed on Oct. 19, 2018, granted, now 11,104,419.
Application 16/165,959 is a continuation of application No. 15/693,804, filed on Sep. 1, 2017, granted, now 10,144,504, issued on Dec. 4, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0339848 A1, Nov. 4, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64C 13/04 (2006.01); B64C 27/08 (2023.01); B64C 27/20 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/08 (2006.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01); G05G 9/047 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 13/0421 (2018.01) [B64C 27/08 (2013.01); B64C 27/20 (2013.01); G05D 1/0816 (2013.01); G05D 1/0858 (2013.01); G05D 1/102 (2013.01); G05G 9/047 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a first hand control, wherein:
the first hand control controls an altitude of a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft;
movement of the VTOL aircraft within a plane defined by a roll axis and a pitch axis is independent of the first hand control; and
the first hand control is provided on a first hand side of a pilot's seat included in the VTOL aircraft;
a second hand control, wherein:
the second hand control controls the movement of the VTOL aircraft within the plane defined by the roll axis and the pitch axis;
the altitude of the VTOL aircraft is independent of the second hand control; and
the second hand control is provided on a second hand side of the pilot's seat that is opposite from the first hand side.