Method for controlling actuators on a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling controllable devices on a vehicle comprising the steps of:
- a) coupling at least one of the controllable devices to a surface on the vehicle;
b) allowing at least one programmable control means to communicate with each control device and control each controllable device in an active-active mode; and
c) if a malfunction of one of the controllable devices is detected by the programmable control means, allowing the programmable control means to control each controllable device in an active-standby mode.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method that allows controllable devices attached to a vehicle'"'"'s surface (such as, for example, controllable actuators on an aircraft) to be controlled by a processor or like device in an active-active mode and when a malfunction is detected in one of the controllable devices, the processor will switch to control the controllable devices in an active-standby mode.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for controlling controllable devices on a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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a) coupling at least one of the controllable devices to a surface on the vehicle;
b) allowing at least one programmable control means to communicate with each control device and control each controllable device in an active-active mode; and
c) if a malfunction of one of the controllable devices is detected by the programmable control means, allowing the programmable control means to control each controllable device in an active-standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16)
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8. A method for controlling actuators on an aircraft comprising the steps of:
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a) coupling at least a first actuator and a second actuator to a movable surface on the vehicle;
b) allowing at least one computer to manage the first actuator and the second actuator to control the surface in an active-active mode while the vehicle is in operation, each computer further monitoring each actuator for operational stability; and
c) if the computer determines that the first actuator is operationally unstable, allowing the computer to disengage the first actuator and command the second actuator to control the surface in an active-standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling controllable devices on an aircraft having controllable devices coupled to a surface the method comprising the steps of:
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a) allowing a actuator control electronics circuit to communicate with each control device and control each controllable device in an active-active mode; and
b) if a malfunction of one of the controllable devices is detected by the programmable control means, allowing the actuator control electronics circuit to control each controllable device in an active-standby mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification