Antiskid Wheel Reference Speed Estimation for Braking Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft brake control systems face issues with incorrect calculation of wheel reference speed, leading to erroneous antiskid desired pressure and inadequate braking pressure due to parameters like tuning of the brake control algorithm, resulting in 'pressure droop' and suboptimal braking performance.

Innovation Solution

The system calculates wheel reference speeds for multiple wheels and determines a wheel reference estimate as the arithmetic mean, using this to decide whether to use individual wheel speeds or the mean speed for antiskid pressure calculation, ensuring accurate pressure application by determining if each wheel speed is within a threshold of the estimated speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If wheel reference speed is calculated using individual wheel speeds, then braking response is fast, but calculation accuracy deteriorates leading to pressure droop

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking response speedVSAvoidwheel reference speed accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple wheel reference speed calculations from different landing gears and merges them into a single averaged wheel reference speed. This merging approach resolves the contradiction by utilizing data from multiple wheels to improve accuracy while maintaining the responsive nature of individual wheel speed measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal wheel reference speed that serves as a common reference for antiskid control across multiple landing gears. This multi-functional reference speed improves calculation accuracy by being applicable system-wide while still allowing individual wheel braking responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If antiskid desired pressure is calculated using individual wheel reference speed, then pressure application is responsive, but braking performance deteriorates due to pressure droop

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure application responsivenessVSAvoidbraking performance consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the calculated wheel reference estimate is continuously compared against individual wheel reference speeds. This feedback loop ensures that pressure application remains responsive while correcting for accuracy errors that would otherwise cause pressure droop and performance degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter used for pressure calculation from individual wheel reference speed to an averaged wheel reference estimate. This parameter change improves reliability by using a more accurate reference while maintaining responsiveness through the threshold comparison mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If wheel reference estimate is calculated as arithmetic mean of multiple wheel speeds, then speed measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel reference speed accuracyVSAvoidcalculation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a simple arithmetic mean calculation to average multiple wheel speeds, creating an improved wheel reference estimate. This parameter transformation approach improves measurement precision while avoiding complex algorithms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity to minimal computational overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If individual wheel speeds are used for antiskid control, then control responsiveness is high, but braking consistency across landing gears deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol responsivenessVSAvoidbraking pressure consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges wheel speed data from multiple landing gears into a unified wheel reference estimate. This merging maintains control responsiveness by still using individual wheel speeds for comparison while improving braking consistency across all landing gears through the averaged reference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an equipotential reference by averaging wheel speeds across different landing gears, ensuring that all wheels operate from the same reference potential. This approach maintains individual wheel control responsiveness while ensuring consistent braking pressure across the entire aircraft landing gear system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentEP3269605B1Wheel reference balance estimator
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 GOODRICH CORP
  • EP3269605B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3269605B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3269605B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Systems and methods (300, 500) are disclosed herein for controlling braking systems. In this regard, a method for controlling brakes may comprise receiving (302, 302a), by an antiskid control (ASK), a first wheel speed, calculating (304, 304a), by the ASK, a first wheel reference speed (WRS), and calculating (306, 306a), by the ASK, a first wheel reference estimate (WRE). In various embodiments, the method may further comprise determining (308, 308a) if the first WRS is within a threshold value of the first WRE. In various embodiments, the method may further comprise calculating an ASK desired pressure. The ASK desired pressure may be calculated using the first WRS in response to the first WRS being within the threshold value of the first WRE. The ASK desired pressure may be calculated using the first WRE in response to the first WRS being outside the threshold value of the first WRE.