US 11,745,858 B2
Managing force equalization via force-fight cycle detection
Clifton Harrell, Arlington, TX (US); Christos Bais, Keller, TX (US); Curtis R. Higgens, Arlington, TX (US); Thomas Earl Johnson, Jr., Dallas, TX (US); and David Adjei, Mansfield, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/191,040.
Prior Publication US 2022/0281588 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 13/50 (2006.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); B64C 27/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 13/506 (2018.01) [B64C 13/503 (2013.01); B64C 13/505 (2018.01); B64C 27/006 (2013.01); B64D 45/00 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0085 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of managing force equalization (FEQ) on a vehicle utilizing redundant actuation systems for one or more control surfaces, the method comprising, by a computer system for the vehicle:
determining, via a force sensor, a measured force applied by a first actuation system in relation to a control surface, wherein the control surface is redundantly serviced by a plurality of actuation systems comprising the first actuation system;
updating a measured-force time series for the first actuation system with the measured force;
analyzing movement over at least a portion of the measured-force time series responsive to the updating;
responsive to the analyzing, identifying a force-fight cycle in the measured-force time series, wherein the force-fight cycle comprises a detected instance of the measured-force time series being in opposition to measured-force data of each other actuation system of the plurality of actuation systems followed by a relaxation of the opposition;
indicating the force-fight cycle in cumulative force-fight cycle data for the first actuation system; and
executing FEQ failure logic responsive to the cumulative force-fight cycle data for the first actuation system satisfying force-fight cycle failure criteria.