Aircraft Brake Control Unit Emergency Activation Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft braking systems are unavailable during flight due to hibernation commands, posing a risk in emergency situations where independent braking is needed.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables aircraft braking systems to operate independently of conventional signals by using a brake control unit (BCU) to receive initiation signals, allowing the braking system to be activated outside of hibernation modes, bypassing conventional programming and enabling emergency braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the braking system operates in hibernation mode during flight to conserve energy and reduce system complexity, then energy consumption is reduced and system simplicity is improved, but braking availability deteriorates making the system unavailable during emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The braking control system is segmented into multiple independent pathways: a primary automated pathway that operates in hibernation mode during flight, and a secondary independent pathway with a standalone initiation signal capability that can activate braking independently of the primary system. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity during normal operation while providing emergency availability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary initiation signal mechanism is introduced that acts as a mediator between the pilot's emergency braking request and the braking system. This intermediary signal bypasses the conventional hibernation control logic and directly activates the braking system, resolving the contradiction between maintaining system simplicity and ensuring emergency availability.
2Reliability
If the braking system follows conventional hibernation commands to simplify operation and reduce pilot workload, then ease of operation is improved, but braking responsiveness deteriorates in emergency situations requiring immediate independent activation
Solution Approach 1:
The system is configured in advance with a dedicated initiation signal pathway that is pre-positioned and ready to activate the braking system immediately upon receipt of an emergency signal. This preliminary preparation ensures that when an emergency occurs, the braking system can be activated without waiting for conventional hibernation sequences, thus improving responsiveness while maintaining simple operation through the pre-configured signal pathway.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the braking system remains in standby mode during flight to reduce energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but braking system availability deteriorates making it unavailable when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different operational states to different components: the main braking system remains in hibernation/standby mode to conserve energy during flight, while a critical initiation signal pathway maintains local readiness capability. This local quality differentiation allows the majority of the system to consume minimal energy while ensuring that the critical activation function remains available when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method to enable braking system operation independent of conventional aircraft signals, such as those tied to the hibernation commands is disclosed. The disclosure relates to the enablement of a braking system (200) in response to an initiation signal. In this way, the crew has the ability to force the braking system out of a hibernation mode into an "emergency type" braking mode if desired. The concepts described herein may be applicable to an electric braking system and to a hydraulic braking system.