Aircraft Control Surface Actuator Synchronization via Mean Position Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft control systems using electro-mechanical actuators face challenges in synchronizing the operation of control surfaces to avoid uneven loading and ensure simultaneous movement across wings, which can lead to undesirable forces and stresses on the aircraft.
Innovation Solution
An actuator control system that includes multiple electro-mechanical actuators, position sensors, and a control system that calculates a weighted mean position value to adjust speed commands, ensuring synchronized movement by utilizing weighting factors to accommodate slower-moving actuators and maintaining continuous updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electro-mechanical actuators are used to operate control surfaces, then the system becomes more reliable and maintainable compared to hydraulic systems, but synchronization difficulties arise causing uneven loading and adverse aircraft operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a synchronization controller that continuously monitors the actual position of each electro-mechanical actuator via position sensors and adjusts speed commands in real-time based on position deviations from the mean position, ensuring synchronized operation while maintaining the reliability benefits of EMA systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the speed parameter of each actuator based on its current position relative to the mean position, using proportional control to modify actuator velocity and achieve synchronization without compromising the inherent reliability of electro-mechanical actuation
2Ease of operation
If speed commands are adjusted to synchronize actuators, then position synchronization is achieved, but position differences and angle errors persist during transient operations
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization controller proactively adjusts speed commands before significant position deviations occur by continuously monitoring actuator positions and applying corrective speed adjustments, preventing large position errors rather than correcting them after they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic speed adjustment where the speed command for each actuator is continuously modified based on real-time position feedback, allowing the control parameters to adapt during transient operations and minimize position differences throughout the movement cycle
3Ease of operation
If weighted mean position values are used to accommodate slower actuators, then synchronization is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces weighting factors as adjustable parameters in the mean position calculation, allowing slower actuators to be compensated by giving appropriate weight to their position readings, thereby achieving synchronization through parameter modification rather than structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different weighting factors are applied to different actuators based on their individual performance characteristics, allowing each actuator to be optimized locally while maintaining overall system synchronization through the weighted mean position approach
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator control system can include a plurality of electro-mechanical actuators for operating one or more end effectors, a plurality of position sensors associated with the plurality of electro-mechanical actuators, each of the plurality of positions sensors providing an output indicating an actual position value, and a control system. The control system can be configured to receive an activation command signal and the position sensor outputs, and send a speed command for each of the plurality of electro-mechanical actuators and adjust the speed command of each of the plurality of electro-mechanical actuators using a mean position value based on the actual position values to synchronize movement of the plurality of electro-mechanical actuators together.