Failsafe Synthetic Angle Generation for Aircraft Electric Braking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric braking systems in aircraft face issues with uncommanded braking due to faulty position sensors, leading to potential safety hazards and the need for a failsafe mechanism to retract the electromechanical brake actuator without continuous feedback.

Innovation Solution

A controller system that detects errors in motor angular position signals, generates a synthetic signal to retract the actuator motor, and disables the electromechanical brake actuator, using a combination of error detection, synthetic angle generation, and command signal management to prevent uncommanded braking and ensure a failsafe condition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a position sensor is used to provide motor angular position feedback, then motor control precision is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to potential sensor failures causing uncommanded braking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor angular position signal accuracyVSAvoidbraking system safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller proactively monitors the position sensor signal for errors and prepares a synthetic angular position signal as a pre-established backup. When sensor failure is detected, the system has already prepared the failsafe mechanism, allowing immediate transition to synthetic signal control without delay or uncommanded braking action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements error detection mechanisms that identify position sensor failures before they can cause harmful uncommanded braking. By detecting errors in advance and switching to synthetic angular position signals, the system cushions against the potential harmful effects of sensor failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Measurement precision

If continuous position sensor feedback is required for motor control, then control precision is maintained, but system complexity increases due to the need for error detection and synthetic signal generation mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular position control accuracyVSAvoidcontroller structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller acts as an intermediary that processes both the position sensor signal and generates synthetic angular position signals. This centralized mediation allows the system to maintain control precision through the synthetic signal while integrating error detection and failsafe mechanisms within a single control unit, managing complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3434542B1Failsafe synthetic angle generation algorithm for aircraft electric braking system

Publication Date: 2020.04.22 GOODRICH CORP

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AI summary

A controller (210) for a brake may comprise an error detector (310) configured to determine an error in a motor angular position signal and a synthetic angle generator configured to generate a synthetic motor angular position signal. The controller (210) may control an actuator motor via the synthetic motor angular position signal in response to the error in the motor angular position signal being determined. In various embodiments, the synthetic motor angular position may cause the controller (210) to retract an electromechanical brake actuator.