Aircraft Speed Brake Control for Automated Thrust and Drag Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual deployment and retraction of drag devices on aircraft lead to inefficiencies, such as over-steeping and increased workload for pilots, as well as unnecessary thrust adjustments during multi-level descents.
Innovation Solution
An autothrottle-autospeedbrake controller system that automates the movement of drag devices based on aircraft speed, altitude, and speed target data signals, allowing for efficient deployment and retraction of drag devices, particularly when the aircraft is on autopilot and with automatic speed control active.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual deployment and retraction of drag devices is used, then pilot control flexibility is maintained, but pilot workload increases and over-steeping can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The drag device control system automatically monitors aircraft speed, altitude, and descent rate, then self-adjusts drag device deployment without pilot intervention. The system serves itself by using onboard sensors and processors to make real-time control decisions, eliminating the need for continuous manual monitoring and adjustment by the pilot.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives feedback from aircraft sensors regarding speed, altitude, and descent rate, processes this information through a controller, and automatically adjusts drag device deployment in response. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the drag devices are deployed only when needed and retracted when no longer required, preventing over-steeping while reducing pilot workload.
2Reliability
If drag devices remain deployed during multi-level descents, then speed control is maintained, but unnecessary thrust adjustments are required
Solution Approach 1:
The drag device control system dynamically adjusts deployment based on real-time aircraft conditions during multi-level descents. As the aircraft transitions between different descent levels and speed requirements, the system automatically modulates drag device position to match current operational needs, ensuring speed control is maintained only when necessary while improving overall descent efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in aircraft parameters such as speed, altitude, and descent rate, and automatically adjusts drag device deployment in response to these parameter changes. During multi-level descents, the system detects when speed control is no longer required and automatically retracts drag devices, eliminating unnecessary thrust adjustments and improving descent productivity.
3Ease of operation
If automated drag device control is implemented, then pilot workload is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated drag device control system is integrated with existing aircraft systems, utilizing existing sensors for speed, altitude, and descent rate data. The control algorithm serves multiple functions by monitoring various aircraft parameters and making coordinated adjustments to drag device deployment, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated sensors and control mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aircraft, auto speed brake control systems, and methods for controlling drag of an aircraft are provided. In one example, an aircraft includes an aircraft structure. A drag device is operatively coupled to the aircraft structure between a stowed and a deployed position and/or an intermediate deployed position. A speed brake controller is in communication with the drag device to control movement. An autothrottle-autospeedbrake controller is in communication with the speed brake controller and is configured to receive data signals. The autothrottle-autospeedbrake controller is operative to direct the speed brake controller to control movement of the drag device between the stowed position and the deployed position and/or the intermediate deployed position in response to at least one of the data signals.