A particle removal device for an ink jet printer is discussed. The particle removal device includes a first separator comprising an arrangement of obstacles including at least two rows of obstacles that extend laterally with respect to a flow path of ink in the first separator. The rows of obstacles are offset from one another by a row offset fraction. The arrangement of obstacles is configured to preferentially route larger particles having diameters greater than a critical diameter through the arrangement and along a first trajectory vector that is angled with respect to the direction of the flow path of the ink. The angle of the first trajectory vector with respect to the ink flow path is a function of the row offset fraction. Smaller particles having diameters less than the critical diameter travel through the arrangement along a second trajectory vector that is not substantially angled with respect to the flow path of the ink. The first separator causes a pressure drop of the ink of less than about 100 Pa.

There are provided an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which can shorten a drying time of inks in an edge region of an image, and can form a sharp image without bleeding of the ink applied onto the edge region into a blank paper. The image processing method generates applying data for forming an image on a print medium by a relative scan between print heads for ejecting a first ink and a second ink having the same color with the first ink and lower in surface tension than the first ink, and the print medium. The image processing method generates first data for applying the first ink to a predetermined region that is adjacent to an edge region of the image and that is included in an inside region inward of the edge region, and generates second data for applying the second ink to the edge region.

A solid ink stick identification system enables accurate and efficient identification of solid ink sticks in a solid ink imaging device. The solid ink identification system includes an actuator configured to move one of an optical source and an optical sensor between a plurality of predetermined positions. The optical source emits light toward a face of the ink stick, and the optical sensor generates signals corresponding to an amount of reflected light received. A controller identifies features on the solid ink stick based on the signals as the one of the optical source and optical sensor is moved between the plurality of predetermined positions.

An image recording method includes applying an ink containing a pigment in a dispersion to a region of a recording medium, and applying a liquid composition capable of destabilizing the dispersion of the pigment in the ink to the recording medium so as to cover at least part of the region of the recording medium. The ink further contains polymer particles, and at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of the compounds expressed by General Formula (1) and the compounds expressed by General Formula (2). In the ink, the content of the polymer particles is 3% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less relative to the total mass of the ink, and the mass ratio of the polymer particles to the surfactant is 1 or more and 10 or less.

An image recording apparatus includes: a nozzle that discharges electromagnetic wave curable ink that is cured when an electromagnetic wave is irradiated onto a recording medium; and an irradiator for irradiating the electromagnetic wave, wherein a filter that transmits the electromagnetic wave is provided on the irradiator, and the filter has a first transmittance that causes the electromagnetic wave curable ink on the recording medium to be curable with respect to an electromagnetic wave that is incident at a first angle and a second transmittance that maintains a state in which the nozzle can discharge the electromagnetic wave curable ink with respect to an electromagnetic wave that is incident at a second angle.

A liquid ejection apparatus includes: (a) a storage device for storing an image data set representing a plurality of images; (b) a liquid ejection head for performing an image formation on each recording medium; (c) a curl reduction device for reducing curl caused in each recording medium having the corresponding image formed thereon by the liquid ejection head; (d) an output tray for receiving each recording medium whose curl has been reduced by the curl reduction device, such that the received recording media are stacked on the output tray; and (e) a control device configured to control the curl reduction device, such that the curl caused in an earlier one of the recording media is reduced by a smaller degree than the curl caused in a later one of the recording media that has been subjected to the image formation later than the earlier one of the recording media.

This invention relates to a media multi-feed rejection apparatus, comprising: a plurality of feed rollers; a feed roller driving means operatively connected to one of the plurality of feed rollers; a clutch means operatively connected to the other of the plurality of feed rollers; and a single channel encoder means operatively connected to the clutch means to measure a rotation of the other of the plurality of feed rollers.

According to an aspect of the present invention, in a medium conveyance apparatus which securely supports and conveys a medium, by providing a function for applying a back tension to the medium, in a guide section which forms a guide for supporting the medium in a medium conveyance unit, it is possible to apply a back tension to the medium of which at least a portion is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit, thereby restricting the occurrence of creasing and floating when the medium is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit and maintaining the flatness of the medium which is securely supported by the medium conveyance unit.

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head which ejects liquid toward a recording medium; a rib which projects in a direction toward the liquid ejecting head, and includes a support portion for supporting the recording medium; a detection target portion which is provided at a position lower than the support portion; a lower side portion located at a position lower than the detection target portion; a light emitting unit which irradiates the detection target portion with light rays; a light receiving unit which receives reflected light rays resulting from reflection of the light rays with which the detection target portion is irradiated, convers the received reflected light rays into photocurrent, and outputs the photocurrent as an output voltage; and a sensitivity setting unit which causes the light emitting unit to irradiate the detection target portion with light rays and sets the sensitivity of the light receiving unit.

A recording apparatus includes: a transporting roller which includes a cylindrical shaft having one joint from one end portion to the other end portion of the shaft and transports a recording medium by being driven to rotate; a driven roller which holds and transports the recording medium with the transporting roller; and a recording section which performs recording on the recording medium, in which the joint includes a plurality of protrusion sections which protrude in a direction intersecting with an axial direction of the transporting roller, in which the plurality of protrusion sections are disposed in positions which do not come into contact with both end portions of the recording medium in the axial direction of the cylindrical shaft.

A printing apparatus includes a housing, a carriage in which a print head is mounted, the carriage moving inside the housing, and an openable cover provided for the housing. A restricting member configured to restrict movement of the carriage during transport of the printing apparatus is attachable to the printing apparatus. While the restricting member is attached to the apparatus, the restricting member engages with the carriage, the cover in a closed position, and the housing and part of the restricting member is exposed outside of the cover in the closed position. When the part is pulled, the restricting member disengages from the carriage, the cover, and the housing and is detached from the apparatus.

The disclosure discloses a printer performing printing processing that forms desired print on a print-receiving medium. The printer includes a cartridge holder, a drive device, a thermal head, an energization device, an attribute detecting device, a first determination portion, and a processing portion. The cartridge holder removably mounts a cartridge. The drive device drives a feeding roller to feed the print-receiving medium. The thermal head performs printing on the print-receiving medium fed. The energization device controls energization of the thermal head. The attribute detecting device detects an attribute of the print-receiving medium. The first determination portion determines whether or not a tube cartridge capable of supplying a tubular print-receiving medium is mounted. The processing portion performs predetermined processing that is for suppressing expansion of the tubular print-receiving medium and is triggered by the determination that the tube cartridge has been mounted by the first determination portion.

A sheet discharging device includes a first conveying path that guides a sheet to be conveyed. A second conveying path branches from the first conveying path. A sorting section sorts a sheet being conveyed on the first conveying path into either a downstream side of the branch point or the second conveying path. A first discharge tray is placed at a position downstream of the first conveying path and receives a sheet discharged from the first conveying path at a first sheet loading surface. A second discharge tray is placed at a position downstream of the second conveying path and below the first discharge tray, and receives a sheet discharged from the second conveying path at a second sheet loading surface whose distance to the first sheet loading surface increases toward a downstream side thereof in a sheet discharging direction.

In accordance with one embodiment, a duplex printer apparatus comprises a first printing section configured to use an inkjet mechanism for carrying out printing on a first surface of a paper wound in a roll shape; a second printing section configured to be arranged at the downstream side of the first printing section in a paper conveyance direction and use a thermal printing mechanism for carrying out printing on a second surface serving as the back side of the first surface of the paper; and a heat amount changing section configured to change, according to the difference of printing by the first printing section, a driving condition of the thermal printing mechanism when the second printing section applies heat to a paper.

The invention relates to a marking apparatus (10) for marking an object comprising a marking head (20) having a plurality of marking devices (40, 40a, 40b) for applying a marking on the object and a driving mechanism for providing a relative movement of the object relative to the marking head in an advance direction (16) during a marking operation. The marking head comprises in addition to the plurality of marking devices a plurality of sensor devices and the sensor devices (50) are arranged down-stream of the marking devices in the advance direction, so that the marking applied by the marking devices is detectable by the sensor devices, when the object is moved relative to the marking head in the advance direction. The invention also relates to a method for marking an object.

An optical writing controller that controls a light source to expose a photoconductor and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor calculates a correction value for correcting a superimposing position where the developed images for different colors developing each of the electrostatic latent images formed on each of the multiple photoconductors are superimposed based on the detection signal output by a pattern detection sensor that detects a pattern for correcting the superimposing position, controls the multiple light sources to draw a predetermined pattern repeatedly in the sub-scanning direction so that stepwise patterns whose width in the main scanning direction varies with repetition are formed, and determines the width in the main scanning direction of the patterns for correcting based on the strength of the detection signal output by the pattern detection sensor.

An image forming apparatus including a control unit configured to cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at an image forming portion to which toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a first light emission amount, and cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at a non-image forming portion to which no toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a second light emission amount that is smaller than the first light emission amount. The image forming apparatus further includes an adjusting unit configured to adjust the first light emission amount and the second light emission amount, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a speed of surface of the photosensitive member. The adjusting unit is configured to change the second light emission amount according to information acquired by the acquisition unit.

An optical scanning device includes: a driving unit that drives a light source that outputs multiple light beams; a deflecting unit that scans a scanning surface in a main-scanning direction by deflecting the light beams, the scanning surface moving at a predetermined line speed in a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit that changes number of the light beams according to the line speed by controlling the driving unit, changes a scanning speed of the deflecting unit in the main-scanning direction according to a difference between an exposure amount per unit length in the main-scanning direction after a change in the number of the light beams and a predetermined exposure amount, and changes light intensity of each of the light beams output by the light source according to an amount of a change in the scanning speed.

A laser scanning unit includes a laser light source, rotating polygon mirror, drive motor, and entry detection, intensity detection, intensity adjustment, and drive control portions. The laser light source radiates first and second laser lights in first second directions, respectively. The drive motor rotates the polygon mirror reflecting the first laser light. The intensity adjustment portion adjusts the first laser light in accordance with the second laser light detected by the intensity detection portion, until a second time after a first time has elapsed since the first laser light entry detection by the entry detection portion. The drive control portion, upon adjustment by the intensity adjustment portion, drives the drive motor at a first rotation speed, wherein a return light entry timing is included within the first time or from when the second time has elapsed to the timing of the entry detection portion detection.

An optical print head, including: a light emitting substrate which includes a light emitting element on a base; a rod lens array which focuses light emitted from the light emitting element onto an image carrier, the rod lens array having a larger linear expansion coefficient than the base of the light emitting substrate; and expansion suppressing members which are attached to both lateral surfaces of the rod lens array in a direction that is perpendicular to an optical axis direction and is a shorter direction, each of the expansion suppressing members having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the rod lens array.

An image forming device includes a photoreceptor drum including a target surface that is scanned in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, an exposure head including a plurality of light emitting segments aligned in parallel to the main scanning direction, an exposure driving unit which selectively drives the plural light emitting segments, a storing unit which stores a profile where the respective positions of the plural light emitting segments correspond to a correction amount from the main scanning direction toward the sub-scanning direction at every position, and a correcting unit which smoothes a local change of the correction amount in the profile.

A 2-D scanning system uses a fast-rotating raster-polygon as a single scanning component to produce straight scan lines over a 2-D image surface. An approach angle of incident light beams to the raster-polygon is selected to minimize pin-cushion distortion of scan lines introduced by polygon scanning on the image surface, and a tilt angle of the rotational axis of the raster-polygon is selected to position said polygon-scanning distortion symmetrically on the image surface. In addition, scan optics are configured to generate a predetermined amount of barrel distortion of scan lines on the image surface to compensate for pin-cushion distortion introduced by polygon scanning.

For each totally black pixel of image data to be printed using a fluid-ejection printing device, it is determined whether the pixel is part of a line feature or an area fill feature of the image data. Where the pixel is part of a line feature, a first printing mask selected that is optimized for printing line features. Where the pixel is part of an area fill feature, a second printing mask is selected that is optimized for printing area fill features. Each mask specifies a number of fluid droplets to be printed and positions where the fluid droplets are to be printed. The selected mask is applied to the pixel. The pixel is printed using the mask that has been applied. The fluid-ejection printing device prints the pixel by ejecting the number of fluid droplets specified by the mask at the positions specified by the mask.

A liquid ejecting head comprises a pressure generation chamber communicating with a nozzle opening, a vibrating wall provided as one surface of the pressure generation chamber and vibrates so that ejects the liquid from the nozzle opening, and a resin portion having a recessed arc-shape and formed in a corner of the pressure generation chamber and formed of a resin material having a Young's modulus of less than or equal to 10 GPa. A ratio r/w of a radius r of the surface of the resin portion to a width w of the pressure generation chamber defined by the vibrating wall is greater than or equal to 0.017 and less than or equal to 0.087.

There are provided a substrate for an inkjet head and an inkjet head wherein in a case where a protection layer of heating resistors is energized, an electrical connection with portions around the protection layer is more reliably cut. A first protection layer provided for the substrate for an inkjet head includes individual sections provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of heating resistors and a common section which commonly connects the plurality of individual sections. The individual sections and the common section are connected via connect sections which are eluted and connect in a case where an electrochemical reaction occurs between the connect sections and ink when electricity flow therethrough, so that an electrical connection between the individual sections and the common section is cut.

A cover for a liquid container which exposes at least a portion of a detecting member, having a liquid supply portion to a liquid ejecting apparatus through communicating with the liquid containing unit, and a first surface provided with a first container side engagement portion arranged between the liquid supply portion and the detecting member. The cover includes a first cover side engagement portion engaging with the first container side engagement portion.

A liquid dispensing device (10), including a drop ejection device (12) including an orifice (18) adapted for ejecting drops therefrom, a single detection device (28) positioned to receive drop information from the ejected drops of the drop ejection device, and a controller (40) that receives the drop information and uses the drop information to determine a number of drops ejected from the drop ejection device.

A tray unit includes a first tray, a second tray, and a cover. The first tray includes a first holding surface for holding thereon a first sheet. The second tray includes a second holding surface for holding thereon a second sheet. The second tray is configured to slide above and along the first holding surface between a first second-tray position and a second second-tray position, and is configured to pivot between the second second-tray position and a third second-tray position in which the second tray stands upward with respect to the first holding surface. The cover is configured to cover from above at least a part of the second tray when the second tray is in the second second-tray position, and is configured to pivot between a first cover position in which the cover extends along the first holding surface and a second cover position in which the cover stands upward with respect to the first holding surface.

A digital camera includes an image capture assembly; a print media transport assembly; a pagewidth ink jet printhead; a roll of print media; an internal chassis serving as a frame on which the image capture assembly, the print media transport assembly, and the printhead are directly supported; and an external casing completely encasing therewithin the internal chassis. The external casing is openable, and the internal chassis together with the assemblies and printhead supported thereon are removable from the external casing. The internal chassis is provided as an integral frame configured with pre-molded fittings adapted to receive and support the assemblies and printhead.

A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer made of a perovskite compound containing sodium, potassium, lithium, niobium and tantalum and bismuth manganate and electrodes for applying a voltage to the piezoelectric layer.

A method and system for determining a location of a first device that emits a signal: provide at least three sensors separated and spaced apart from each other; at each of the sensors, receive the signal emitted by the first device; determine the received signals for each of the sensors; determine cross-correlations of the received signals for pairs of the sensors; and determine the location of the first device from the magnitudes of the cross-correlations of the received signals.

An interrogator and system employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogator includes a receiver configured to receive a return signal from a tag and a sensing module configured to provide a time associated with the return signal. The interrogator also includes a processor configured to employ synthetic aperture radar processing on the return signal in accordance with the time to locate a position of the tag.

An electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber includes: an electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus installed in an intended space of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber for adjusting a reflection characteristic of an inside of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber, wherein the electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus have an electromagnetic bandgap structure including a plurality of unit cells arranged periodically.

Disclosed is a detection sensor, which can detect various detection regions even with a small-sized antenna.

The architecture includes a passive radar using opportunistic transmitters and a plurality of active radars that cooperate in the form of a coalition to assure the surveillance of an area of space. The passive radar and the active radars that form the architecture include means for exchanging information and the passive radar is configured to adopt two alternate operating modes: (i) a “watching” mode in which the passive radar carries out surveillance of the area of space concerned and generates detection information, and (ii) an “on-demand data feed” mode in which the passive radar executes at the request of one or more active radars an object search in a given sector of the area under surveillance or an analysis of certain characteristics of the signal received in a given sector.

Provided is a technique capable of suppressing the deterioration in azimuth resolution and distance resolution in even a modulated and transmitted or received signal or a signal reflected by an object and varied in intensity when acquiring waveform information. A measurement device comprise: a plurality of sensors which receive waves propagating through a space; and a sampling timing calculation means which obtains, on the basis of the relative positions of the sensors and the velocities of the waves, the difference between the arrival times of the waves received by the respective sensors and calculates, for each sensor, sampling timing for acquiring the waveform information relating to the waves, on the basis of the difference between the arrival times.

An antenna array for a radar sensor, wherein the antenna array has a number of antenna elements linearly arranged next to one another. The antenna elements are designed for transmitting or receiving a radar signal, and the antenna array has a switching unit, which is designed to connect the antenna elements according to a predetermined switching sequence individually, one after the other in time, with a transmitting or receiving unit of the radar sensor. The switching sequence, according to which the antenna elements are connected one after the other with the transmitting or receiving unit, deviates from the spatial sequence of the antenna elements in the antenna array.

A method of determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank using a level gauge system, comprising the steps of: transmitting a first signal towards a surface of the product; receiving a first echo signal; determining a present echo characteristic value based on the first echo signal; and comparing the present echo characteristic value and a stored echo characteristic value. If a difference between the present echo characteristic value and the stored echo characteristic value is greater than a predefined value, the method further comprises transmitting at least a second transmit signal towards the surface; receiving at least a second echo signal; and determining the filling level based on the at least second electromagnetic echo signal.

A method for monitoring the state of a fill level measuring device (1) operating according to the radar principle and such a fill level measuring device, wherein the fill level measuring device (1) has at least one transceiver unit (2) for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, and at least one antenna (3) for guiding, radiating and receiving electromagnetic signals. The antenna (3) has at least one interior space (4), and wherein the antenna (3) has a transmission characteristic with regard to the transmission of electromagnetic signals. Electromagnetic signals are emitted or directed at least partially in the direction of a wall section (5) of the interior space (4) of the antenna (3), the received electromagnetic signals are evaluated with respect to the transmission characteristic of the antenna (3), and the result of the evaluation is compared to at least one stored reference value.

A system and method of radar location comprises radar signal emission means, an emitted pulse of duration T1 and index i starting at instant T2(i); means receiving reflected radar signals; means determining correlation between reconstruction of an emitted pulse and signal received during the time interval between T2(i)+2*T1 and T2(i+1). The means determining a correlation can reconstruct a set, of at least one truncated pulse j of duration T3(j), less than T1, corresponding to the final part of said emitted pulse, said truncated pulses having increasing respective durations, determining at least one first correlated signal j by correlation of said truncated pulse j and signal received during time interval between T2(i)+T1 and T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and determining a second signal, based on first correlated signals j, by copying the time interval, of said correlated signal j, between T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and T2(i)+T1+T3(j+1), onto the time interval, of said second signal, between T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and T2(i)+T1+T3(j+1).

Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.

A rover processor determines position of a rover based upon the interaction between multiple antennas located at the rover and multiple antennas located at a base. The rover antennas may include a rover master antenna having a phase center located at the centroid of the antennas patterns of at least two auxiliary rover antennas. The rover processor may determine the position of the rover master antenna based upon the relative positions of at least two rover antennas (e.g., the rover master antenna and at least one rover auxiliary antenna, or at least two rover auxiliary antennas) with respect to at least two antennas of a base transceiver.

A method and apparatus for assisting the calculation of the position of a receiver device (1200), by observing a transmitted signal having a known structure. The method comprises: comparing (S220) the time of arrival, at a reference position (X1), of a first portion of the signal with the time of arrival at the receiver, at an unknown position (Y1), of a second portion of the signal; obtaining (S230) a local wave propagation model of the signal, the model comprising an estimate of the direction of propagation of the signal in the neighborhood of the reference position and unknown position; and using (S240) the direction of propagation and the result of the comparison to assist in the calculation of the unknown position relative to the reference position.

A method for calibrating (700) an antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements coupled to a plurality of respective receive paths in a wireless communication system. The method comprises, in receive mode, applying a test signal to an individual single receive path (715) of the plurality of receive paths; and feeding back the test signal via a switched coupler network. The method further comprises running a receive calibration measurement routine to determine at least one measurement value used to calibrate the individual signal receive path and waiting for at least one converged measurement value; and extracting (720) the converged measurement value for at least one individual receive path. The steps of applying, running, extracting for a next individual single receive path are repeated until the calibration routine has completed (725). The method further comprises selecting a converged measurement value of at least one individual receive path from a plurality of receive paths (730) to form a reference receiver calibration result (730); normalizing a plurality of at least one measurement values of the plurality of receive paths using the reference receiver calibration result (730); and applying a normalized value to at least one of the plurality of receive paths.

Devices, systems, and methods for sending positional information from transmitters/beacons are disclosed. In one implementation a transmitter generates a range block including a ranging signal and a hybrid block including positioning data, and sends the range block and hybrid block in predefined slots in a transmit frame. A receiver in a user device receives signals from a plurality of transmitters and generates position/location information using trilateration and measured altitude information in comparison with transmitter altitude information.

A wireless communication terminal includes a communication status measurement element for measuring communication status data representing a communication status of the self terminal at the time of wireless communications; a reference data storage element for storing respective pieces of preset reference data representing communication statuses of a terminal which can be measured at respective locations at the time of wireless communications, in association with respective pieces of location data identifying the respective locations, and a location specifying element for comparing the communication status data measured by the communication status measurement element with the respective pieces of reference data stored in the reference data storage element, and based on the comparison result, specifying a location corresponding to the location data associated with a particular piece of reference data as a location of the self terminal.

Techniques for determining time of arrivals (TOAs) of signals in a wireless communication network are described. Each cell may transmit (i) synchronization signals on a set of contiguous subcarriers in the center portion of the system bandwidth and (ii) reference signals on different sets of non-contiguous subcarriers distributed across the system bandwidth. A UE may determine TOA for a cell based on multiple signals transmitted on different sets of subcarriers. The UE may perform correlation for a first signal (e.g., a synchronization signal) from the cell to obtain first correlation results for different time offsets. The UE may perform correlation for a second signal (e.g., a reference signal) from the cell to obtain second correlation results for different time offsets. The UE may combine the first and second correlation results and may determine the TOA for the cell based on the combined correlation results.

A system and method to display, when within an envelope of an ownship's flight path, a symbol representing wake turbulence from another aircraft based on aircraft type and flight parameters received from the other aircraft, the symbol being formatted to indicate the severity of portions of the wake turbulence. The format is modified periodically in accordance with the aircraft's flight path and a decay rate of the wake turbulence.

A driver performance mapping system for a vehicle system is disclosed. The system may include a GPS receiver generating GPS data indicative of a current location of the vehicle. In addition, the system may also have a radar device generating current gap data indicative of a current gap distance from the vehicle to a lead vehicle. Further, the system may include an electronic controller configured to generate learned gap data based on the current gap data and stored gap data, and then assign the learned gap data with the GPS data.

An unmanned aircraft, unmanned aviation system and method for collision avoidance during the flight operation of an unmanned aircraft are provided. The unmanned aircraft includes a lift and propulsion system and a flight control system having a flight control unit, a navigation system and an actuator system. The flight control unit has an autopilot unit. The flight control unit calculates control commands using data from the navigation system and/or the autopilot unit, which can be conveyed to the actuator system for actuating the lift and propulsion system. A collision warning system is connected with the flight control system, the collision warning system detects a collision situation and makes collision avoidance data available. A connection between the collision warning system and the autopilot unit is provided, in order to initiate an obstacle avoidance maneuver by the autopilot unit with the help of the collision avoidance data.