Twin Motor Actuator Contradictory Command Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Redundant motor control systems in aircraft can receive conflicting commands, leading to motor damage and instability due to manufacturing tolerances and wear variations, making it difficult to determine the intended valve operation.
Innovation Solution
A dual motor actuator system where motor controllers communicate with each other via an electrically isolated link to detect and resolve contradictory commands, controlling the motors to a defined state if conflicts are detected, ensuring consistent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant motor controllers are used to control the valve, then system reliability is improved, but the risk of receiving contradictory commands increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor controllers exchange command information with each other through a communication link, allowing each controller to feedback its commanded state to the other. This enables real-time detection of contradictory commands and automatic resolution by transitioning to a defined state when conflicts are detected.
Solution Approach 2:
A communication link serves as an intermediary between the motor controllers, facilitating the exchange of command state information. This intermediary enables the controllers to coordinate their operations and detect contradictions without direct mechanical interaction.
2Device complexity
If motor controllers operate independently without communication, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect and resolve contradictory commands is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The communication link merges the operational information from both motor controllers into a coordinated system. By combining the command state data from both controllers, the system achieves contradictory command detection while maintaining relatively simple individual controller designs.
3Reliability
If the communication link between motor controllers is electrically isolated, then system safety is improved, but communication reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical communication link is replaced with an optically isolated communication interface. This substitution maintains the integrity of command state information transfer while providing electrical isolation to prevent ground loops and electrical interference, thereby improving system safety without sacrificing communication reliability.
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
Prevents motor opposition and maintains system stability by automatically reverting to a defined state when contradictory commands are received, ensuring the valve operates as intended despite communication route damage.
Implementation Method 1
The communication link between the motor controllers can be an electrically isolated communication link, for example, an electrically isolated communication link that is formed from one or more opto-isolators.
Data Source
AI summary
A twin motor actuator includes a pair of motor controllers for controlling respective motors according to commands received by each motor controller, and a communication link for communicating the commands received by each motor controller to the other motor controller. The motor controllers are configured to transmit the commands received by the motor controller to the other motor controller via the communication link, determine whether contradictory commands have been received by the motor controllers, and control the motors at a defined state if contradictory commands are received. The communication link is an electrically isolated communication link and the defined state may be the state of the motors immediately before detecting the contradictory commands.