JP2006256369A - Unmanned airplane - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an unmanned aircraft capable of safely traveling on a runway, an apron and a taxiway or the like in an airfield. <P>SOLUTION: The unmanned aircraft is equipped with a flight control computer which controls an engine control part, a steering controller controlling a steering of wheels equipped with the airframe, and a brake device, and a cockpit of the outside the airframe detachably mounted to the outside part of the airframe wherein an operation board operating the flight control computer and which can monitor the periphery of the airframe. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle, and more particularly to an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with an out-of-flight cockpit for use when traveling on the ground.

  Conventionally, unmanned airplanes are mainly used for weather observation, reconnaissance, decoy, etc., and many are small. For this reason, when starting, a large machine is used to transport the aircraft to the air and drop it from the air, or use JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off). At the time of recovery, the aircraft was small and it was not necessary to consider passengers like a manned airplane, so after flying to an appropriate open space, the engine was stopped and landed using a parachute.

  In recent years, it has become necessary to mount precision equipment in order to obtain more accurate information than ever in weather observation and reconnaissance. There is also a demand for freight transportation using unmanned aerial vehicles.

  However, high precision weather observation or reconnaissance precision instruments are generally heavy and cannot be mounted on conventional small aircraft. In addition, when carrying cargo, it is not possible to load and transport a large cargo that is currently being transported using a manned airplane with a small aircraft conventionally used. Therefore, the demand for large unmanned airplanes is increasing.

  If a large unmanned aerial vehicle is landed using a parachute in the same manner as a conventional small unmanned aerial vehicle at the time of collection, the loaded precision instrument or large cargo may be damaged. In addition, since the unmanned airplane itself is also increased in size, there is a risk that the unmanned airplane itself may be damaged when landing using a parachute.

  Therefore, large unmanned airplanes are required to take off and land on airfields equipped with runways, aprons, taxiways, and the like, as with current manned airplanes. The construction and management of an airfield generally requires a considerable amount of money, and it is difficult to construct an airfield dedicated to unmanned airplanes. Therefore, a conventional airfield for manned airplanes is used.

  Here, a technique for landing an unmanned airplane on an airfield using a guidance device has already been established. In flight, the use of radar control and TCAS (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System), an alternative function for monitoring by passengers and the automation of judgments, have progressed, and automatic collision avoidance has been developed. Technology is being established.

  When moving the apron, taxiway, runway, etc. in the airfield before takeoff or after landing, it is necessary to avoid contact or collision with other airplanes. In the case of a manned airplane, the pilot can avoid the danger of contact and collision by maneuvering the airplane while viewing from the cockpit.

  On the other hand, in the case of an unmanned aerial vehicle, monitoring may not always be sufficient because an operator located far from the aircraft controls the unmanned aerial vehicle.

  Therefore, an unmanned airplane is operated by an operator on the ground while attaching a camera capable of monitoring the periphery of the unmanned airplane and watching the image with the unmanned airplane control device.

In addition, the direction of travel and obstacles are detected using direction sensors and obstacle sensors, and based on the detection results, the flight control computer (Flight Control Computer) installed in the unmanned airplane changes the direction of the engine control unit and wheels. An unmanned airplane is autonomously run in an airfield under control (see Patent Document 1).
JP 09-266871 A

  However, according to this method, a large data link band is required, and in addition, when the data link is obstructed by an obstacle or the like, an emergency operation cannot be performed.

  In addition, when traveling with an azimuth sensor and an obstacle sensor, the memory provided in the flight control computer is set in advance to the travel position on the runway where the unmanned airplane travels in the airfield, and travels along the travel position. It will be. Therefore, the operation to avoid and the space required to avoid are limited, and it is difficult to avoid an obstacle.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an unmanned aerial vehicle that can safely travel on a runway, an apron, a taxiway, and the like in an airfield.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an unmanned airplane according to claim 1 includes an engine control unit, a steering controller that controls steering of a wheel provided in the fuselage, a flight control computer that controls a brake device, and the flight control computer. An operation panel for operation is provided, and a pilot seat outside the fuselage is detachably attached to the fuselage outside the fuselage.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an operator seated in an out-of-flight cockpit attached to the unmanned airplane can control the unmanned airplane on the ground while monitoring the surroundings of the aircraft.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the unmanned aerial vehicle according to the first aspect, the out-of-flight cockpit can be stored in the airframe.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the out-of-flight cockpit can be attached to the unmanned airplane even in an airfield that does not have the out-of-flight cockpit by storing the out-of-flight cockpit in the airframe.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the unmanned airplane according to the first or second aspect, the operation panel operates at least the engine control unit, the steering controller, and the brake device through the flight control computer. It is possible.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, an operator seated in a pilot seat attached to the unmanned airplane can control the unmanned airplane on the ground using the operation panel while monitoring the periphery of the aircraft.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an unmanned airplane moves on the ground, the operator gets on the board and controls the unmanned airplane, thereby avoiding a collision with another airplane or the like that becomes an obstacle when moving in the airfield. Can move.

  In addition, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the outside cockpit seat that is seated when the unmanned airplane moves on the ground is attached to the outside of the aircraft, it is necessary to provide an unnecessary working volume for the operator during the flight. Therefore, the limited space inside the aircraft can be used effectively.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, an unmanned airplane can be safely run in an aerodrome by attaching an out-of-air pilot seat even in an aerodrome that does not have an out-of-air cockpit.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when an unmanned airplane travels on the ground, the operator operates the operation panel to control the unmanned airplane, thereby preventing a collision with another airplane that becomes an obstacle when traveling in the airfield. You can avoid it and move safely.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

  As shown in FIG. 1, main wings 3, 4 are provided on both side surfaces of a fuselage unit 2 for mounting cargo, observation equipment, and the like of the unmanned airplane 1. An engine 5 is attached to the upper surface of the rear part of the body part 2. Further, the tail wing 6 is connected to the main wings 3 and 4 so as to be located behind the fuselage portion 2.

  A front wheel 9 and rear wheels 10 and 11 used when moving on the ground are provided on the lower surface of the body portion 2 and the main wings 3 and 4.

  A connector 12 and an opening 13 are provided outside the nose side of the main wing 4 of the fuselage unit 2.

  Outside the fuselage portion 2 on the nose side of the main wing 4 of the fuselage portion 2, an outboard fuselage seat 14 for maneuvering the unmanned airplane 1 from outside the fuselage is attached. A pilot seat mounting member 15 is provided on a side surface of the external cockpit 14 attached to the fuselage unit 2 on the side of the fuselage unit 2, and the cockpit mounting member 15 is inserted into the opening 13 so that the pilot seat outside the fuselage is inserted. 14 is attached to the body part 2.

  The out-of-flight cockpit 14 can be attached to and detached from the fuselage unit 2 and is attached when the unmanned airplane 1 moves within the airfield, and is removed when the take-off takes place.

  In the present embodiment, the out-of-flight cockpit 14 is attached to the outside of the nose side of the main wing 4 of the fuselage unit 2, but the attachment position is not limited to this part. A position where an operator seated in the pilot seat 14 outside the fuselage can sufficiently monitor the surroundings of the fuselage, and a position where the operator can safely operate the operation panel, such as there is no possibility that the seated operator is sucked into the engine. For example, the lower part of the body part 2 or the lower part of the main wings 3 and 4 may be used.

  In order to prevent the out-of-flight cockpit 14 from falling off the unmanned airplane 1 during use of the out-of-flight cockpit 14, a plurality of bolt holes are provided in the out-of-flight cockpit 14 and the fuselage section 2 and fixed with bolts. Also good.

  The means for attaching the out-of-flight cockpit 14 to the unmanned airplane 1 is not limited to the method described above, and there is no particular limitation as long as it is a method that can fix the out-of-flight cockpit 14 to the fuselage 2. As an attachment means, for example, a magnet may be provided on the mounting surface of the out-of-flight cockpit 14 to the unmanned airplane 1 and attached by magnetic force.

  The cockpit 14 outside the fuselage preferably has a light and simple structure in order to improve fuel consumption and flight performance. In addition, the out-of-flight cockpit 14 is stored in a storage (not shown) of the fuselage 2 when not in use. However, in order to further improve fuel economy and flight performance, it is prepared for an airfield and not stored in the aircraft. Also good.

  The out-of-flight cockpit 14 is provided with an operation panel 16 for maneuvering the unmanned airplane 1 when traveling on the ground.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a flight control computer (FCC) 19, a steering controller 20, a brake device 21, and an engine control unit 22 are stored in the body unit 2.

  The flight control computer 19 controls the operation of the unmanned airplane 1 during flight and on the ground. The flight control computer 19 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores predetermined programs such as a flight control program and a ground running program stored in the ROM. The data is read out and expanded in the work area of the RAM, and various processes are executed according to the program.

  The flight control computer 19 is provided with a storage unit (not shown), and the storage unit stores a travel route of the unmanned airplane in the airfield.

  The flight control computer 19 controls the steering controller 20, the brake device 21, and the engine control unit 22 based on detection results of a direction sensor and an obstacle sensor (not shown) provided in the unmanned airplane 1, for example, and the unmanned airplane in the airfield. 1 is made to autonomously travel.

  Even when the unmanned airplane 1 is autonomously traveling as described above, the flight control computer 19 transmits the control signal from the operation panel 16 when the control signal is transmitted from the operation panel 16 regarding the traveling of the unmanned airplane. The control of the steering controller 20, the brake device 21, the engine control unit 22, and the like is controlled with priority given to the contents of the control signals that have been provided.

  The steering controller 20 is connected to the front wheels 9 and the rear wheels 10 and 11 and turns the front wheels 9 and the rear wheels 10 and 11 in accordance with a control signal transmitted from the flight control computer 19. The steering controller 20 is also composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, reads a predetermined program stored in the ROM, develops it in the work area of the RAM, and executes various processes according to the program.

  As the brake device 21, for example, a drum brake, a disc brake, or the like can be used, and the type thereof is not limited as long as the braking force can be reliably applied to the front wheels 9 and the rear wheels 10, 11. The brake device 21 applies a braking force to the front wheels 9 and the rear wheels 10 and 11 in accordance with a control signal transmitted from the flight control computer 19.

  The engine control unit 22 starts and stops the engine in accordance with a control signal transmitted from the flight control computer 19, and controls engine output after the engine is started. The engine control unit 22 is also composed of, for example, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, reads a predetermined program stored in the ROM, develops it in the work area of the RAM, and executes various processes according to the program.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 16 includes, for example, a brake operation unit 23, a steering operation unit 24, and an engine operation unit 25. By operating the brake operation unit 23, the drive of the brake device 21 is controlled. Further, by operating the steering operation unit 24, the steering controller 20 is controlled to turn the front wheels 9 and the rear wheels 10, 11. Further, by operating the engine operation unit 25, the engine control unit 22 is controlled to control the thrust of the engine 5.

  A connection cable 26 is attached to the operation panel 16. The connection cable 26 is connected to the connector 12 and transmits a control signal transmitted from the operation panel 16 to the flight control computer 19.

  Next, the operation of the unmanned airplane 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  When the unmanned airplane 1 travels in the airfield, first, the cockpit mounting member 15 of the out-of-flight cockpit 14 is inserted into the opening 13 and the out-of-flight cockpit 14 is attached to the fuselage 2. Thereafter, the connection cable 26 is connected to the connector 12 and the operator is seated.

  When the unmanned airplane 1 travels, the flight control computer 19 controls the steering controller 20, the brake device 21, the engine control unit 22, and the like based on the detection results of an orientation sensor, a travel distance sensor, and an obstacle sensor (not shown) The route stored in a storage unit (not shown) provided in the flight control computer 19 is autonomously traveled.

  If the operator monitors the surroundings of the aircraft and determines that there is a risk of colliding with an obstacle in autonomous traveling by the flight control computer 19, or if it is determined that there is a more suitable route than the traveling route by autonomous traveling, The brake operation unit 23, the steering operation unit 24, and the engine operation unit 25 of the panel 16 are operated. When a control signal is transmitted from the operation panel 16 to the flight control computer 19, the operation panel has priority over the control signal transmitted by the flight control computer 19 based on the detection results of the direction sensor, the strike distance sensor, and the obstacle sensor. The control signal transmitted from 16 is transmitted to the steering controller 20, the brake device 21 and the engine control unit 22.

  The steering controller 20, the brake device 21, and the engine control unit 22 to which the control signal from the operation panel 16 is transmitted drive the engine 5, the front wheels 9, the rear wheels 10, 11 and the brake device 21 according to the contents thereof, and the airfield Run on the apron, taxiway and runway.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when an unmanned airplane 1 moves on the ground, an operator gets on the board and operates the unmanned airplane 1 to obstruct other airplanes, sign lights, and the like that are obstructed when moving in the airfield. You can move safely while avoiding collisions.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the cockpit outside the fuselage has a light and simple structure, even if it is housed in the fuselage, the weight is not increased and fuel efficiency and flight performance can be improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to further improve the fuel consumption and the flight performance if the out-of-flight cockpit is stored in the airfield without being stored in the airframe.

It is a perspective view of the unmanned airplane which attached the seat outside the fuselage concerning the present invention. It is the perspective view which expanded the part which attached the seat outside the fuselage to the unmanned airplane. It is a functional block diagram of an operation panel and a body part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Unmanned airplane 5 Engine 14 Pilot seat 16 outside a body Operation panel 19 Flight control computer 20 Steering controller 21 Brake device 22 Engine control part 23 Brake operation part

Claims (3)

An engine control unit, a steering controller that controls steering of wheels provided in the fuselage, and a flight control computer that controls a brake device;
An operation panel for operating the flight control computer is provided, and an external cockpit seat detachably attached to the aircraft outside the aircraft,
An unmanned aerial vehicle characterized by comprising:   2. The unmanned airplane according to claim 1, wherein the cockpit outside the fuselage can be stored in the fuselage.   The unmanned airplane according to claim 1, wherein the operation panel is capable of operating at least the engine control unit, the steering controller, and the brake device through the flight control computer.

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