Actuator Controller Voting Scheme for High-Integrity PWM Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft actuation systems require complex and costly architectures to achieve high integrity and mitigate common mode failures, leading to increased weight and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A high-integrity electromechanical actuator control system is designed with redundant function control channels, actuator controllers implementing a command voting scheme, and electromechanical actuators receiving position commands from multiple controllers, ensuring integrity and redundancy while reducing weight and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant control system commands and independent command versus monitoring architecture are implemented to achieve high integrity and mitigate common mode failures, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator control integrityVSAvoidcontrol system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple control commands from redundant function control channels into a single voting scheme within each actuator controller. This merging approach maintains the reliability benefits of redundancy while reducing the overall system complexity by consolidating control logic into integrated voting mechanisms rather than separate independent architectures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Each actuator controller is designed to perform multiple functions: receiving commands from multiple function control channels, implementing voting schemes to verify integrity, generating position commands, and controlling the electromechanical actuator. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby maintaining high integrity while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator control integrityVSAvoidcontrol system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges redundant control functions into integrated actuator controllers that perform voting schemes internally. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate heavy monitoring and control hardware, reducing overall system weight while maintaining the reliability benefits of redundant command paths and voting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator controllers are designed as multi-functional units that combine command reception, voting logic, position command generation, and actuator control in a single integrated component. This reduces the total weight by eliminating redundant separate components while preserving the integrity-mitigating functions of redundancy and independent verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator control integrityVSAvoidsystem production cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple control and monitoring functions into integrated voting schemes within each actuator controller. This merging reduces the number of separate components that need to be manufactured and assembled, thereby lowering production costs while maintaining the reliability benefits of redundant command paths and independent verification architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The actuator controllers are designed as universal multi-functional units that handle command reception, voting, position generation, and actuator control. This multi-functionality reduces manufacturing complexity and component inventory requirements, leading to lower production costs while preserving high integrity through redundant and independent control functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12244258B2High-integrity actuator controller and control systems

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A high-integrity electromechanical actuator control system includes a system function controller, a plurality of actuator controllers, and at least one electromechanical actuator. Each actuator controller includes a first controller, a second controller, and a duty cycle computation circuit. The first controller receives digital actuator control commands supplied from two of the function control channels and supplies first digital duty cycle commands. The second controller receives digital actuator control commands supplied from two function control channels and supplies second digital duty cycle commands. The duty cycle computation circuit receives the first digital duty cycle commands and the second digital duty cycle commands, computes an average of the first and second duty cycle commands, and generates pulse width modulated (PWM) commutation control signals based on the computed average.