Aircraft Flap Actuator Synchronization via Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft flaps can skew or twist due to asynchronous actuation, leading to aerodynamic asymmetry and rolling moments, which existing systems fail to adequately prevent or minimize.
Innovation Solution
A system with sensors and a control unit that monitor and adjust the speed of actuators to synchronize the motion of aircraft flaps, ensuring both actuators move at the same rate and reducing the likelihood of skewing or twisting by adjusting the speed of leading or lagging actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two drive stations are used to actuate a flap simultaneously, then the flap can be extended or retracted, but the flap may skew or twist if the drive stations move at different rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors to detect the position of each drive station and feeds this information back to a control unit. The control unit compares the positions and adjusts the actuation of each drive station independently to maintain synchronization, preventing flap skew or twist while enabling simultaneous actuation.
2Reliability
If distributed actuation system with no mechanical interaction between drive stations is used, then system reliability is improved, but synchronization control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical coupling between drive stations with an electronic control system. Sensors monitor each independent drive station's position, and a control unit coordinates their operation electronically, eliminating the need for mechanical synchronization mechanisms while maintaining reliability and enabling precise control.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If flap motion is not synchronized, then aerodynamic asymmetry and rolling moments occur, but adding synchronization control increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses sensors to continuously monitor flap positions and provides feedback to the control unit. This enables automatic adjustment of drive station actuation to maintain synchronization, preventing aerodynamic asymmetry and rolling moments through a relatively simple electronic control architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method of controlling one or more flaps (102, 108) of an aircraft (106) may include receiving first and second sensor signals from respective first and second sensors (120, 122) coupled to respective first and second actuators (112, 114) that are moveably secured to a first flap (102) of a first wing (104) of the aircraft (106). The first and second sensor signals relate to one or both of the position or the speed of the respective first and second actuators (112, 114). The system and method may also include comparing the first and second sensor signals to determine a difference between the first and second sensor signals, and adjusting the speed of one or both of the first or second actuators (112, 114) based on the difference between the first and second sensor signals. A system and method may include determining a difference between one or both of speed or position of the first and second flaps (102, 108), and adjusting the speed of one or both of the first and second flaps (102, 108) based on the difference between one or both of the speed or the position of the first and second flaps (102, 108).