Dual-Output Position Sensor for Redundant EMA Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing configuration of electro-mechanical actuators (EMAs) in aircraft requires multiple interconnecting wires for position sensors, leading to increased weight and complexity, which is undesirable for flight-critical applications.
Innovation Solution
An integrated position sensor system with dual synchronized outputs that combines motor position and actuator position data into a single sensor data packet, reducing the number of communication interfaces and interconnecting wires by using multiple processors and communication buses to process and transmit data efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate interfaces are used for each sensor to ensure redundancy and reliability, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase due to more interconnecting wires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor interfaces (motor commutation sensor and actuator rod position sensor) into a single integrated communication bus interface. This merging reduces the number of separate wire connections while maintaining the redundancy and reliability of having multiple independent sensors, as both sensors can communicate through the unified interface without interfering with each other's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication bus interface is designed to be universal, handling multiple sensor types and functions through a single interface. The system can accommodate different sensor configurations (redundant sensors, different sensor types) through the same communication protocol and physical interface, eliminating the need for separate dedicated wires for each sensor while preserving all original functions.
2Reliability
If multiple separate interfaces are used for each sensor to ensure redundancy, then the reliability is improved, but the weight increases due to larger connector size and more wires
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple sensor communication interfaces into a single integrated communication bus, the patent significantly reduces the number of interconnecting wires between EMA and EMAC. This consolidation directly reduces the weight of connectors and wiring harnesses while maintaining the weight-critical redundancy of multiple independent position sensors through the unified interface.
3Device complexity
If a single integrated interface is used for multiple sensors, then the device complexity and weight are reduced, but the measurement precision and data synchronization may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated communication bus maintains segmentation of sensor data streams, allowing motor commutation sensor data and actuator rod position sensor data to be transmitted separately and independently through the unified interface. This segmentation preserves the precision and integrity of each sensor's measurement while benefiting from the reduced complexity of the integrated interface architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system configuration significantly reduces the number of interconnections needed between an electromechanical actuator (EMA) and an EMA controller (EMAC) while maintaining redundancy and other safety aspects needed by the target application. This allows simplification of communication interfaces between multiple sensors in the EMA and EMAC and unification of the interface to multiple sensors inside the EMAC, leading to cost and weight reduction that can be significant for many aerospace products and applications, including unmanned vehicle (e.g., UAM/UAV) applications.