NEURAL NETWORK SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATION OF HELICOPTER GROSS WEIGHT AND CENTER OF GRAVITY LOCATION

The invention is directed to a helicopter health and usage monitoring system utilizing a neural network for estimating gross weight and center of gravity location from measured flight condition parameter inputs; and includes means for measuring a plurality of variable flight condition parameters during flight of the helicopter; memory means for successively receiving and storing parameter input signals as well as estimates of gross weight and center of gravity location; and processing means responsive to the signals received from the measurement means for generating the gross weight and center of gravity location estimates.