Flight Control Systems

Student: Group:

Deaconu Razvan 1233E

Introduction
The architecture of the flight control system, essential for all flight operations, has significantly changed throughout the years. Nowadays two great categories of flight control systems can be found:
Mechanical Servo-assisted Flight control surfaces on airliner

Servomechanisms use active control technology, working directly on the flight control actuators, for a series of benefits: compensation for deficiencies in the aerodynamics of the basic airframe stabilization and control of unstable airplanes flight at high angles of attack automatic stall and spinning protection gust alleviation

Direct mechanical control

Two types of mechanical systems are used: o Push pull rods o Cable-pulley A sequence of rods link the control surface to the cabin input. Bell-crank levers are used to change the direction of the rod routings necessary to alter the direction of the transmission and to obtain the conventional coupling between stick movement and elevator deflection. The same operation described before can be done by a cable-pulley system, where couples of cables are used in place of the rods. In this case pulleys are used to alter the direction of the lines, equipped with idlers to reduce any slack due to structure elasticity, cable strands relaxation or thermal expansion.

Push-pull rod system for elevator control

Cables and pulleys system for elevator control

Hydraulic control
When the pilots action is not directly sufficient for a the control, the main option is a powered system that assists the pilot. These systems are: 1) Hydro-mechanical assisted C.S. 2) Hydro-mechanical powered C.S. 3) Electro-hydro-mechanical C.S.

Classic hydraulic servomechanisms

1) Hydro-mechanical assisted C.S.

While still in the mechanical domain, this control system strengthens parts of the subsystem by hydraulic actuators. Its components are: Mechanical (as in Mechanical C.S.) Hydraulic actuators mounted on parts such as push-pull rod, cams and elevators Note: The actuators do not directly connect the pilot with the aircraft, thus if they were to fail, the pilot can still rely on the mechanical linkage. Warning: The motion transmission from the controller stick to the controlled surface can be reversed.

2)

Hydro-mechanical Powered C.S

Components: Mechanical Hydraulic actuators Artificial feel system

The hydraulic component directly connects the pilot with the aircraft. An artificial system is used to give the pilot the feeling of direct control. The motion from the controller stick to the control surface can not be returned by the elevator motion to the controller stick.

3)

Electro-hydro-mechanical C.S.

While the basic system is still hydro-mechanical, this solution brings a specific feature, a closedloop between the control system and the aircraft, through the aircraft motion sensor. The electronic circuit closes the control loop through the aircraft motion sensor, control stick motion sensor and information processing computer for control strategy. This system is still irreversible.

Electro-hydraulic C.S. (Fly-By-Wire)

In this control system all mechanical components are eliminated. The basic philosophy is the reduction of weight and space while simplifying the installation mechanism. The primary components consist of processor blocks namely : Computer block Sensor block Hydraulic actuator block Power supply block

Each of these blocks are connected by electrical transmission cables. This modular feature allows for flexibility, easy installation maintenance and repair.

The fly-by-wire layout for the Airbus 340

Three groups of personal computers are used on board: three for primary control (FCPC), two for secondary control (FCSC) and two for high lift devices control (SFCC). The primary and secondary computers are based on different hardware; computers belonging to the same group have different software. Two additional personal computers are used to store flight data.

References
http://www.wikipedia.org/ http://www.aero.polimi.it/~l050263/bacheca/Dispense_EN/06wFligCont.pdf http://konkuk.academia.edu/AgusBudiyono/Books/87064/Automatic_Flig ht_Control_System_Classical_approach_and_modern_control_perspective http://www.davi.ws/avionics/TheAvionicsHandbook_Cap_11.pdf