Integrated compact electrically powered and signaled actuation systems

Abstract

One of the key challenges in enabling More Electric Aircraft is the development of electrically powered servos that meet or exceed the performance, packaging, weight, and cost of a hydraulic fly-by-wire servo. This paper introduces an innovative Electro-Hydrostatic Actuator that outperforms the existing solutions in terms of mass, size and energy efficiency. The innovative design features hydraulic regeneration when the commanded movement is aligned with the direction of external force. This new feature helps to decrease energy consumption. The high efficiency of the actuator prototype is confirmed by simulation with a verified MATLAB/Simulink model. Simulations also manifest that the proposed actuator has improved phase and gain margins as compared to existing solutions.