US 12,312,067 B2
Deadband control for an aircraft
Leonard Wengler, Palm City, FL (US); and Matthew T. Luszcz, Hamden, CT (US)
Assigned to Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/100,762.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/302,422, filed on Jan. 24, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0234697 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 13/04 (2006.01); B64C 13/50 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 13/0421 (2018.01) [B64C 13/503 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control system for an aircraft, the control system comprising:
a control stick biased towards a neutral position defined along a central axis and pivotable to a plurality of angular positions relative to the central axis; and
a controller coupled to the control stick, the controller including an electronic processor and a memory, the controller configured to:
create a deadband of the control stick, the deadband extending between the central axis and a first angular distance from the central axis,
control the aircraft according to a first control mode when the control stick is positioned within the deadband,
control the aircraft according to a second control mode when the control stick is positioned outside of the deadband, and
adjust a size of the deadband such that the deadband extends between the central axis and a second angular distance from the central axis.