Aircraft Control Surface Feedback for Distributed Gust Load Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for reducing gust loads on aircraft rely on central flight control computers, limiting the ability to effectively compensate for gust loads on aerodynamic control surfaces without centralized control.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a sensor system and controller on each aerodynamic control surface to directly measure and compensate for gust-induced forces and moments, allowing for independent actuator control without a central flight control computer, using a high clock rate processor for fast regulation and potentially overcompensating gust loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central flight control computer is used to reduce gust loads, then gust load compensation can be achieved, but system complexity and control centralization increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gust load compensation function into independent segments at each actuator level. Each actuator is equipped with its own sensor system and controller that can independently detect and compensate for gust loads on its associated control surface, eliminating the need for a centralized control system while maintaining effective gust load reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
Each actuator system serves itself by incorporating local sensors and controllers that autonomously detect gust-induced forces and adjust the control surface position without requiring commands from a central flight control computer. This self-service capability enables distributed gust load compensation.
2Reliability
If fast regulation of gust loads is implemented, then gust load reduction effectiveness improves, but processor speed and response time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the control system into independent actuator-level units, each with its own processor running at high clock rate, the patent achieves fast local regulation without requiring a single high-speed central processor. This distributed high-speed processing enables effective gust load compensation.
3Strength
If control surfaces are actively controlled to counteract gust loads, then structural loads on the aircraft are reduced, but actuator control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each actuator system autonomously controls its associated control surface by detecting gust-induced forces through local sensors and automatically adjusting the surface position to counteract the gust loads, reducing structural loads without requiring complex centralized control coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control at each actuator level where sensors continuously monitor the forces acting on control surfaces and feed this information to local controllers, which then adjust actuator commands to maintain optimal control surface positioning and reduce structural loads.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for reducing gust loads acting on an aircraft. The aircraft has at least one aerodynamic control surface (101) which can be moved by at least one actuator (102), and a flight control system (103) provides reference variables Xsoll and/or Ẋsoll to actuate the actuator (102). Xsoll indicates a target position or a target force or a target moment and Ẋsoll indicates a change over time of Xsoll. The device comprises: a sensor system (104), which determines forces Fext,Boe acting from outside on the control surface (101) and produced by gusts; and a regulator (105) for regulating the actuator (102) on the basis of: Fext,Boe, the reference variables Xsoll and/or Ẋsoll and control variables X and/or Ẋ generated by the actuator (102) and detected by a sensor system (120), wherein the regulator (105) has a regulation behaviour with which the forces Fext,Boe produced by gusts are compensated.