Aircraft Brake Actuation Smoothing via Force Command Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft brake control systems face errors due to the mismatch between desired and actual brake actuator positions, rates, and rate changes, leading to increased mechanical wear and frequent movements caused by quantization noise and high loads, which are not effectively addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A control actuation smoothing system that includes a filter within an aircraft brake and steering controller, which receives target performance data and compares it to force commands to determine errors, then outputs a smoothed force command, approximating the physical capabilities of the brake actuator, thereby reducing wear and improving response accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the brake control system transmits output signals directing the brake actuator to follow a desired path of actuator travel, then the control precision is improved, but the mechanical components experience increased wear due to frequent movements and high loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidcomponent wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is applied in advance to the force command signal to smooth it before it reaches the brake actuator. This preliminary filtering action removes quantization noise and prevents high-frequency commands that would cause excessive mechanical wear, while still maintaining the overall braking performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the control system and the brake actuator. This intermediary smooths the force command signal by removing high-frequency quantization noise, thereby protecting the mechanical components from excessive wear while preserving the essential control functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the force command includes fine adjustments caused by quantization noise, then the control accuracy is improved, but the mechanical components move frequently increasing wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol accuracyVSAvoidcomponent wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter extracts and removes the harmful quantization noise component from the force command signal while preserving the essential braking control information. This separation allows the system to maintain control accuracy without transmitting the high-frequency noise that causes mechanical wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter serves as an intermediary that selectively removes quantization noise from the force command signal before it reaches the brake actuator, thereby preventing frequent mechanical movements while preserving the necessary control accuracy for effective braking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If the system outputs a force command that does not account for actuator physical capabilities, then the response speed is improved, but the control accuracy deteriorates due to error between desired and actual actuator behavior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidcontrol accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The filter incorporates feedback about the actuator's physical capabilities and actual behavior into the control signal processing. By comparing the desired force command with the actuator's actual response characteristics, the filter adjusts the signal to compensate for mechanical limitations, thereby improving control accuracy while maintaining response speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2974923B1Control actuation smoothing
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 GOODRICH CORP
  • EP2974923B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2974923B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2974923B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to control actuation smoothing, and more particularly, to a control actuation smoothing system that smoothes brake actuation. The smoothing may be determined in response to a filter (207). In various embodiments, the smoothing may enhance brake component performance.