Aircraft Deceleration Feedback Algorithm Maintains Brake Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft braking systems fail to maintain effective brake pressure during deceleration, leading to brakes going into clearance and loss of control, especially when deceleration is influenced by non-braking activities like aerodynamic drag or reverse thrust, resulting in undemanded or more-than-demanded braking conditions.
Innovation Solution
An algorithm that calculates a minimum brake pressure demand based on minimum pedal displacement, ensuring that brake pressure never drops below a certain threshold, thereby preventing brake discs from going into clearance and maintaining differential pilot/co-pilot braking inputs by limiting the pressure difference between pedals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the brake pressure is reduced to maintain required deceleration when aerodynamic drag or reverse thrust is present, then the deceleration control is accurate, but the pilot loses the feel of braking activity and the ability to manipulate/steer the aircraft through differential braking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary minimum pressure threshold that mediates between the deceleration feedback algorithm's pressure reduction and the pilot's operational needs. This threshold acts as a buffer that allows sufficient pressure reduction for accurate deceleration control while maintaining enough pressure to preserve brake feel and steering capability. The threshold serves as an intermediary constraint that balances automated control accuracy with manual operational effectiveness.
2Productivity
If the algorithm allows brake pressure to drop to compensate for non-braking deceleration activities, then the overall deceleration matches the required level, but the brake discs go into clearance generating no torque or drag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback by continuously monitoring both the required deceleration and actual deceleration, and by using this information to dynamically adjust brake pressure while enforcing a minimum pressure threshold. The feedback loop compares the deceleration effect from non-braking activities with the required deceleration, calculates the appropriate pressure reduction, and applies it while ensuring the threshold is not breached. This feedback mechanism maintains deceleration efficiency while preventing brake clearance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A deceleration feedback algorithm for an aircraft braking system is provided. The algorithm prevents the aircraft brakes for releasing to clearance during a braking operation, while maintaining differential pilot/co-pilot braking inputs. The method and system determine an actual rate of deceleration of the aircraft and calculate the required rate of deceleration of the aircraft, thereafter making a comparison of the actual and required rates of deceleration. It then controls the application and release of brake pressure to the right and left brakes of the aircraft as a function of that comparison, while precluding the discs of the heat stacks from going into separation as a consequence of non-braking activities. Additionally, a minimum brake pressure is provided, ensuring the capability of differential braking between the right and left brake pedals and associated right and left brakes.