ELECTRO‐MECHANICAL ACTUATORS FOR GENERAL AVIATION FLY‐BY‐WIRE AIRCRAFT

Jan Gruszecki

doi:10.3846/16487788.2005.9635892

Abstract

A long‐term goal for general aviation aircraft is to reduce or eliminate the use of fluid power systems such as hydraulics from the aircraft. Power‐By‐Wire (PBW) technology seems to be the next major step in the development of aircraft control. In this solution, control power comes directly from the aircraft electrical system to the Electro‐Mechanical Actuator (EMA), which includes the electric motor, controller and gearbox. EMAs have the potential to be more efficient, less complicated, less expensive, and more faults tolerant than actuators based on hydraulic systems.

Highlights

Fly-By-Wire (FBW) control systems have been used in military and industrial solutions over the last 15 years
The natural step seems to be using these systems in general aviation aircraft [4, 8, 9]
This technique extends the possibilities of aircraft control and the stabilization of flight parameters and allows for better, more flexible automatic control

Summary

Introduction

Fly-By-Wire (FBW) control systems have been used in military and industrial solutions over the last 15 years. The natural step seems to be using these systems in general aviation aircraft [4, 8, 9] This technique extends the possibilities of aircraft control and the stabilization of flight parameters and allows for better, more flexible automatic control. The principle of FBW operation is to convert pilot activity (stick movements) into electrical signals These signals are sent to flight computers. The first is an electro-mechanical unit (Fig 1) which includes electric engine, gearbox, electromagnetic clutch, frictional clutch, driving roller, and rotary potentiometer. The second part of the EMA is the controller (Fig 3) This part is connected directly to the electrical system of the aircraft and the electrical engine is powered through a built-in power output.

Control algorithm

Safety and reliability

Laboratory stand tests

In flight tests

Future Research

Control System for Small Local Communication