Aircraft Drive Motor Torque Control for Smooth Taxiing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft wheel drive systems face challenges in controlling torque during taxiing, as breakaway resistance varies with factors like mass, center of gravity, weather, and runway conditions, leading to potential motor damage or undesirable jerking.
Innovation Solution
A method and control system that determine torque levels for aircraft drive motors based on power and rotation speed signals, adjusting torque levels to ensure sufficient power delivery at low speeds and reducing torque as rotation speed increases, preventing jerking and motor damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a large torque is commanded to overcome potentially large breakaway resistance, then the aircraft can begin movement, but this causes undesirable jerking of the aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts torque levels based on real-time feedback from accelerometers and other sensors. Instead of commanding a fixed large torque, the system continuously monitors aircraft response and modulates torque output to maintain smooth acceleration while overcoming breakaway resistance. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by making torque adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback from accelerometers, GPS, and other sensors to monitor aircraft movement and adjust torque commands in real-time. The feedback loop detects when the aircraft begins to move and automatically reduces torque to prevent jerking, while still providing sufficient force to overcome breakaway resistance. This closed-loop control resolves the contradiction between needing high torque and maintaining smooth operation.
2Ease of operation
If insufficient torque is commanded, then jerking is avoided, but damage to the drive motors may be caused due to inability to overcome breakaway resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The control system applies a preliminary high torque command when the aircraft is stationary to ensure breakaway resistance is overcome. Once movement is detected through sensor feedback, the torque is immediately adjusted to a lower, safer level. This preliminary action ensures motor safety during the critical startup phase while preventing damage during sustained operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions torque levels based on operational phase: high torque when stationary to overcome breakaway, then automatically reduces to appropriate operating levels once movement begins. This dynamic adaptation ensures both motor protection and operational effectiveness, resolving the contradiction between smooth operation and motor safety.
3Device complexity
If fixed torque level is used for control, then control simplicity is maintained, but jerking occurs during aircraft movement initiation
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses feedback from accelerometers and movement sensors to detect when the aircraft begins to move. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts torque levels to prevent jerking. While this adds some complexity compared to fixed torque control, it resolves the jerking issue while maintaining relatively simple implementation through sensor-based detection and automated adjustment.
4Force
If torque is increased to overcome varying breakaway resistance under different operating conditions, then movement initiation is ensured, but motor damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies high torque only temporarily during the preliminary phase when the aircraft is stationary and breakaway resistance must be overcome. Once movement is detected, torque is immediately reduced to safe operating levels. This time-limited preliminary action ensures movement initiation under varying conditions while preventing motor damage from sustained high torque.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adapts torque levels based on real-time operational conditions and aircraft response. It provides high torque when needed to overcome varying breakaway resistance under different conditions (weather, runway, mass), then automatically reduces torque to appropriate levels, preventing motor damage while ensuring reliable movement initiation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a drive system of an aircraft. The drive system comprised a drive motor arranged to drive at least one wheel of an aircraft landing gear. A power signal indicative of a power level for the drive motor and a speed signal indicative of a rotation speed of the drive motor are received. A torque level for the drive motor is determined using the power signal and the speed signal. The drive motor is then driven such that the torque generated by the drive motor is at the determined torque level.