EMA Efficiency Detection via Voltage Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electro-mechanical actuators (EMAs) in electronic brake systems experience efficiency degradation over time due to wear, leading to potential failure, which can result in brake failure and increased power consumption, especially in critical applications like aircraft.
Innovation Solution
An electronic actuator control system that includes an electro-mechanical actuator (EMA) and a controller (EMAC) which applies a force, measures the generated voltage, and compares it to an expected voltage from a lookup table, generating a repair signal if the voltage falls below a threshold, indicating reduced efficiency or impending failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If EMA operates for extended period, then productivity is maintained, but reliability decreases due to wear and efficiency degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of EMA efficiency degradation by measuring voltage during operation and comparing it to expected values from lookup tables. This early detection allows maintenance to be scheduled before complete failure occurs, maintaining both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors EMA performance by measuring voltage, comparing it to expected values, and providing feedback through repair signals when degradation is detected. This closed-loop feedback enables proactive maintenance scheduling that prevents failure while maintaining continuous operation.
2Reliability
If EMA efficiency degrades, then reliability decreases, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors voltage consumption patterns and provides feedback when efficiency degradation is detected. By identifying inefficient actuators early, the system can alert operators to replace or maintain EMAs before they consume excessive power, thus maintaining both reliability and energy efficiency.
3Device complexity
If no monitoring is implemented, then device complexity is low, but reliability decreases due to undetected efficiency degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The EMA system performs self-diagnosis by measuring its own voltage output and comparing it to expected values stored in lookup tables. This self-monitoring capability is achieved with minimal additional hardware, using the existing controller and memory resources to detect efficiency degradation and generate repair signals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables early detection of EMA efficiency decline, allowing for preventative maintenance and reducing power consumption by identifying inefficient actuators before complete failure, thereby ensuring system reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a voltage generated by the EMA
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic actuator control system and method ("system") are provided. The system may comprise an electro-mechanical actuator (EMA) 83 configured to generate a force and an electro-mechanical actuator controller (EMAC) 81 electrically coupled to the EMA. The EMAC may include a non-transitory memory communicating with the EMAC, the non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the EMAC, cause a processor to perform operations. The operations carried out by the EMAC may comprise commanding the EMA to apply a force, determining an expected voltage in response to the force, measuring a voltage generated by the EMA, and comparing the voltage generated by the EMA to the expected voltage.