Bell Helicopter Textron, Fort Worth, Texas, has been assigned a patent (8,014,909) developed by five co-inventors for a “control system for vehicles.”

The co-inventors are Kenneth E. Builta, Euless, Texas, James E. Harris, Dalworthington Gardens, Texas, Bryan P. Honza, Grapevine, Texas, Jeffrey W. Epp, Bedford, Texas, and Kynn J. Schulte, Arlington, Texas.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A system for controlling flight of an aircraft has sensors (37, 43), a receiver (45), and a digital control system (57), all of which are carried aboard the aircraft. The sensors (37, 43) determine the position of the aircraft relative to the earth and the inertial movement of the aircraft. The receiver (45) receives transmitted data (51, 55) communicating the position and movement of a reference vehicle relative to the earth. The control system (57) calculates the position and velocity of the aircraft relative to the reference vehicle using the data from the sensors (37, 43) and the receiver (45) and then commands flight control devices (33) on the aircraft for maneuvering the aircraft in a manner that maintains a selected position and/or velocity relative to the reference vehicle. The system allows use of a graphical or tactile user interfaces.”

The patent application was filed on March 15, 2004 (10/575,223). The full-text of the patent can be found here