Full authority engine-out control augmentation subsystem

Claim 1

A full authority engine-out control augmentation subsystem for modifying the rudder command produced by a flight control system in a manner that: (i) compensates for the yawing moment created by the differential engine thrust that occurs when power from an engine located on one side of a multi-engine aircraft is lost or substantially reduced with respect to the power produced by the remaining engine(s); and (ii) returns the aircraft to its original track, said full authority engine-out control augmentation subsystem comprising: (a) differential means for receiving thrust signals representing the thrust produced by engines located on the right and left sides of the multi-engine aircraft and producing a differential signal denoting the difference in thrust produced by said engines located on the right and left sides of said multi-engine aircraft; (b) signal modifying means coupled to said differential means for receiving said differential signal and modifying said differential signal by gain enhancing and filtering said differential signal so as to produce an engine-out control augmentation rudder command signal that: (i) compensates for the yawing moment created by the differential thrust that occurs when power from an engine located on one side of said multi-engine aircraft is lost or substantially reduced with respect to the power produced by the remaining engines; and (ii) returns the aircraft to its original track; and, (c) signal combining means for receiving said engine-out control augmentation rudder command signal and combining said engine-out control augmentation rudder command signal with other rudder control signals to produce a rudder command signal suitable for controlling the position of the rudder of said multi-engine aircraft.