Advanced flight control technology achievements at Boeing Helicopters

Abstract

Over the last two decades, flight control system requirements have been in a state of transition. Rotary wing missions have become more demanding, requiring vehicle management systems capable of conducting highly aggressive missions under night/adverse-weather conditions in severe electromagnetic environments. The digital, fly-by-wire/optics control system technologies developed at Boeing Defense and Space Group, Helicopters Divison to meet these air vehicle requirements are covered. These technologies, which integrate digital multimode control laws and sidestick controllers within redundant-reconfigurable architectures, provide the rotorcraft capabilities required for the 21st century. The advances in flight control design, as developed during various technology demonstrator programmes, and applied in production of the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor and the RAH-66 Comanche scout/attack helicopter, are summarized.