US 12,282,336 B2
Machine and process for rotating a vehicle
Mark R. Morel, Edmonds, WA (US); Neil Zimmer, Orondo, WA (US); and Tristan Flanzer, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Feb. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/171,185.
Prior Publication US 2024/0280993 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. G05D 1/08 (2006.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 1/0816 (2013.01) [B64D 45/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for estimating an inertia for controlling rotation of a vehicle about an axis of the vehicle, the process comprising:
receiving, from a sensor for the vehicle, a quantity of a material retained within a component of the vehicle;
deriving a value of a weight of the quantity of the material retained within the component;
assigning a first location to a center of a gravity for the vehicle less the weight of the quantity of the material retained within the component of the vehicle;
deriving an inertia value about the axis of the vehicle less the weight of the quantity of the material retained within the component of the vehicle;
assigning a second location to a center of gravity of the material retained within the component;
estimating an inertia value about the axis for the weight of the material retained within the component;
estimating the inertia value for rotating the vehicle about the axis by combining:
the inertia value about the axis of the weight of the quantity of the material retained within the component; and
the inertia value about the axis of the vehicle less the weight of the quantity of the material retained within the component of the vehicle;
providing an estimate of the inertia value for rotating the vehicle about the axis to a rotation control; and
controlling, using the estimate of the inertia value, rotating the vehicle.