US 12,466,552 B2
Pilot-controlled position guidance for VTOL aircraft
Collin Freiheit, Burlington, VT (US); David L. Churchill, Winooski, VT (US); Hamid-Reza Ossareh, South Burlington, 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. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/365,512.
Prior Publication US 2024/0317395 A1, Sep. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); G08G 5/54 (2025.01)
CPC B64C 29/00 (2013.01) [B64C 29/0025 (2013.01); B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B64C 39/024 (2013.01); G05D 1/102 (2013.01); G08G 5/54 (2025.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pilot-controlled position guidance (PCPG) system implemented in a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the PCPG system comprising:
a guidance controller communicatively connected to a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computing device utilized by a pilot of the VTOL aircraft, the guidance controller being configured to:
receive an input from the GUI, the input indicating a selection of a desired maneuver or a location;
determine, based on the input and a model state, a control input that includes a set of directions comprising an optimal control sequence of actions performed by the pilot to enable the VTOL aircraft to perform the desired maneuver or reach the location;
determine, based on the model state, a set of predicted future maneuvers associated with the VTOL aircraft; and
send, to the GUI of the computing device, the control input and the set of predicted future maneuvers for display to the pilot; and
the GUI of the computing device, the GUI being configured to:
receive the control input and the set of predicted future maneuvers from the guidance controller; and
display the control input, including the set of directions and past maneuvers performed by the VTOL aircraft, and the set of predicted future maneuvers to the pilot of the VTOL aircraft.