Mechanical Solution to Enable Individual Blade Control for Rotorcraft

Traditionally, rotorcraft blade control is accomplished through a swashplate mechanism.  The swashplate mechanism is limited in that it does not allow for independent control of rotor blades.  Research efforts have shown that the ability to control rotor blade pitch independently, or Individual Blade Control (IBC), can offer advantages over conventional swashplate-based control.  Previous implementations of IBC mechanisms have placed individual actuators in the rotating frame, one for each rotor blade.  This requires the use of slipring mechanisms which add to system complexity and reduce system reliability.  Wolf’s IBC mechanism utilizes actuators in the stationary frame, like traditional helicopters.  This mechanism is designed to reliably transfer motion from the stationary frame actuators to the blades in the rotary frame through proven power transmission mechanisms.