Active Inceptor Control Unit Reduces Weight and Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current single axis active inceptor systems are inefficient due to repurposed dual axis architectures, leading to increased complexity, power consumption, and weight, with unnecessary circuitry and disused processing capacity.
Innovation Solution
A control unit configuration that allows for a single axis inceptor to drive a motor for force feedback and a remote single axis inceptor, with a bus connection and discrete link for communication, enabling redundancy and efficient power management, where the control unit can relinquish control and reset in case of failure, allowing the remote unit to take over.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dual axis inceptor architecture is repurposed for single axis applications, then system versatility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed with dual capability: it can function as a primary control unit for one single axis inceptor or as a remote control unit for another single axis inceptor. This universal design allows the same hardware architecture to serve multiple roles in the system, achieving versatility without requiring separate specialized designs for different functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically assigns roles between control units based on operational needs. A control unit can switch between being a primary control unit and a remote control unit, allowing the system to adapt its configuration dynamically rather than being fixed in a static dual-axis architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dual axis inceptor architecture is repurposed for single axis applications, then system versatility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and utilizes only the necessary components for single axis operation. By configuring one control unit as primary and the other as remote, the system removes the unnecessary dual-motor configuration of traditional dual-axis inceptors, powering only the single motor required for single-axis force feedback while maintaining the versatility of having two functional control units.
3Reliability
If redundant control units are implemented in single axis inceptors, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of primary and remote control units into a single universal control unit design. Instead of having separate specialized hardware for primary and remote functions, the same control unit can perform either role, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining redundancy and reliability through the ability of either unit to take over.
4Reliability
If redundant control units are implemented in single axis inceptors, then system reliability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
By designing control units with universal functionality that can operate as either primary or remote units, the patent avoids the weight penalty of having two completely separate specialized systems. The same hardware platform serves dual purposes, reducing overall system weight while maintaining the reliability benefits of redundancy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces complexity, weight, and power consumption while ensuring rapid redundancy in case of component failure, maintaining system reliability and efficiency by utilizing components closer to their capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a first connection configured when an operation is performed to drive a motor and in response thereto the motor to generate an associated force feedback at the active inceptor
Implementation Method 2
a second connection configured when the operation is performed to drive a remote motor in a remote active inceptor and in response thereto the remote motor to generate the associated feedback at the remote active inceptor
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control unit in an active inceptor configurable to generate force feedback in a linked active inceptor system, comprising: a first connection configured when an operation is performed to drive a motor and in response thereto the motor to generate an associated force feedback at the active inceptor; and a second connection configured when the operation is performed to drive a remote motor in a remote active inceptor and in response thereto the remote motor to generate the associated feedback at the remote active inceptor.