Method and system for in-flight fault monitoring of flight control actuators

• US 6,622,972 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Urnes, James M. Sr., Hood, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holzen, Stephen A
• Application Number:
  US10/002,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 244/194, 244/75.R, 244/76.R, 244/181, 244/195, 244/904, 244/76.C, 244/17.13, 738/621.3, 738/621.6, 738/621.8, 731/47, 931/67
• US Class Current: 244/194
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements

Abstract

A method and system for detecting in-flight fault characteristics of flight control actuators is provided. Commands are sequentially sent to sets of actuators during flight in a manner that is expected to produce little or no net aircraft motion. The detection of motion indicates the possibility of a faulty actuator. If additional tests confirm the failure, the actuator is isolated and other actuators are compensated to adjust for the failed actuator, permitting continuation of safe and controllable fight by the flight crew and control for a safe landing. This isolation of the suspect failed actuator serves to prevent a possible upset of the aircraft control should the suspect actuator completely fail to a large offset condition, due to continued use during flight, a situation that may cause loss of control of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring in-flight fault characteristics of aircraft flight control actuators, the method comprising:

commanding a first actuator via a first command signal;

commanding a second actuator via a second command signal contemporaneously with the first command signal, wherein the first command signal and the second command signal are configured such that in combination they are expected to produce substantially no motion of the aircraft; and

monitoring the aircraft for unexpected motion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of commanding the actuators is performed contemporaneously with pilot commands such that no aircraft motion is expected beyond that produced by the pilot commands.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein additional pluralities of actuators are commanded in a sequential pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, as a function of the unexpected motion, a suspected faulty actuator.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending to the suspected faulty actuator further commands to confirm the suspected failure.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the suspected faulty actuator is isolated so that the suspected faulty actuator does not receive further commands.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising sending a compensating flight command to at least one actuator other than the isolated actuator to adjust for the isolated actuator.

8. A system for in-flight fault detection of flight control actuators, the system comprising:

a plurality of aircraft flight control surfaces;

at least one actuator in communication with each of the aircraft flight control surfaces;

a computer processor in communication with the actuators; and

a memory associated with the computer processor and containing stored programming instructions that, when operated by the computer processor, cause the processor to;

command a first actuator via a first command signal;

command a second actuator via a second command signal contemporaneously with the first command signal, wherein the first command signal and the second command signal are configured such that in combination they are expected to produce substantially no motion of the aircraft; and

monitor the aircraft for unexpected motion.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the command to the actuators is performed contemporaneously with pilot commands such that no aircraft motion is expected beyond that produced by the pilot commands.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the stored programming instructions cause additional subsets of actuators to be commanded in a sequential pattern.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the stored programming instructions further cause the processor to determine, as a function of the unexpected motion, a suspected faulty actuator.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the stored programming instructions further cause the processor to send confirming commands to the suspected faulty actuator.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the stored programming instructions further cause the processor to send commands to isolate the suspected faulty actuator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the stored programming instructions further cause the processor to adjust flight commands to at least one actuator to compensate for the isolated faulty actuator.

15. A system for in-flight fault detection of flight control actuators, the system comprising:

a plurality aircraft flight control surfaces;

at least one actuator in communication with each of the aircraft flight control surfaces;

a means for commanding a first actuator via a first command signal and commanding a second actuator via a second command signal contemporaneously with the first command signal, wherein the first command signal and the second command signal are configured such that in combination they are expected to produce substantially no motion of the aircraft; and

a means for monitoring the aircraft for unexpected motion.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for commanding further comprises a means for commanding additional subsets of actuators in a sequential pattern.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a means for determining, as a function of the unexpected motion, a suspected faulty actuator.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a means for sending confirming commands to the suspected faulty actuator.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a means for isolating the suspected faulty actuator.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a means for adjusting flight commands to at least one actuator to compensate for the isolated faulty actuator.