Sidestick controllers for advanced aircraft cockpits

Utilization of sidestick controllers for pitch and roll is examined for advanced cockpit configurations for commercial transport aircraft. Specifically, information on active sidesticks which are servo coupled for dual sidestick cockpit configurations is presented. Hardware development status is presented along with results of evaluations. The sticks are coupled such that when one of them is displaced the other one will track that displacement. Autopilot or flight control inputs will cause each stick to displace, thereby providing a visual cue on how much control authority is being implemented. The autopilot can be overridden by applying pressure to the stick or pressing a disengage button on the grip. The sidesticks incorporate the following feel features: break-out forces, linear force gradients, softstop steps, and hardstops. The softstop-to-hardstop region provides a tactile cue to tile pilot that stick displacement limits are being reached and provides the capability of modifying the control laws in this region of sidestick displacement when approaching the aircraft limitations