Electro‐mechanical actuators for general aviation fly‐by‐wire aircraft

Abstract

A long‐term goal for general aviation aircraft is to reduce or eliminate the use of fluid power systems such as hydraulics from the aircraft. Power‐By‐Wire (PBW) technology seems to be the next major step in the development of aircraft control. In this solution, control power comes directly from the aircraft electrical system to the Electro‐Mechanical Actuator (EMA), which includes the electric motor, controller and gearbox. EMAs have the potential to be more efficient, less complicated, less expensive, and more faults tolerant than actuators based on hydraulic systems. First Published Online: 14 Oct 2010

Keywords

• electro-mechanical actuator
• EMA
• controller
• fly-by-wire
• power-by-wire
• flight tests