AIRCRAFT CONTROL SYSTEM

AND
FLY BY WIRE
PRESENTED BY
DEBAJIT BORAH
M.TECH (EEE),1ST SEM

INTRODUCTION

Aircraft flight control system, essential for all flight operation. soon
after the first flights, control surface were introduced for basic
control, operated by the pilot through a mechanical system of
push pull rods, cables and pulleys.

As size and speed and flight envelopes of aircraft increase

gradually pressure on pilot increase, thereafter comes hydraulic
control system.

In late 70s fly-by-wire architecture was developed, starting as an

analogue technique and later on, in most cases, transformed into
digital. It was first developed for military aviation, but in the 80s
the digital technique was imported from military to civil aviation.

FLIGHT CONTROLS

Aircraft has three primary control axes of rotation.

fig.1 (photo source: internet)

AIRCRAFT CONTROL SURFACES

Fig.2: 1.traileron, 2.rudder, 3.flaps,

4.canard,5.leading edge slats(photo
source: internet)

Aircraft controls in the cockpit

Cockpit controls are mainly control yoke or control stick, pedals

and throttle to control engine power.

Fig: cockpit of P-51(photo source: internet)

DIRECT MECHANICAL CONTROL

Two types of mechanical systems are used: push-pull rods and

cable-pulley.

In push-pull rods system the control surface is directly connected

to the control stick by rods. Bell-crank levers are used to change
the direction of the rod routings.

In the cable-pulley system couples of cables are used in placed of

the rods. In this case pulleys are used to alter the direction of the
lines.

Often cable-pulley system is preferred, because is more flexible

and allows reaching more remote areas of the airplane.

Fig.3 push-pull rod control system

Fig.4 cable-pulley system (photo

source: internet)

HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM

Due to increase size, speed and flight envelope of aircraft

aerodynamic forces acting on the control surfaces are also
increased which make the mechanical control inadequate as pilots
had to exert extra muscle power.

This leads to design a new control system i.e. Hydraulic control

system.

The pilot, via the cabin components sends a signal, or demand, to

a valve that opens ports through which high pressure hydraulic
fluid flows and operates one or more actuators.

The valve can be signaled in two different ways: Mechanically or

Electrically

Fig.5 below are the classic hydraulic servomechanisms

(photo source:
internet)

Fig. 6 Hydraulic system video grab from aviation australia

FLY-BY-WIRE

Fly-by-wire architecture was developed, starting as an analogue

technique and later on, in most cases, transformed into digital.

Pilots demand is first convert to electrical signal.

Digital flight control computers.

Flight data such as pitch, roll, yaw rate linear acceleration,

airspeed, pressure, altitude, stick, pedal demands, thrust lever
position.

Actuators

High redundancy.

Fig. 7 - A340 fly-by-wire layout, including hydraulic system indications

(source:internet)

Some of very unstable airframe flying with FBW system (photo source:internet)

Some of very unstable airframe flying with FBW system (photo source:internet)

conclusion

Fly-by-wire control system has large number of advantages over

other control system such as light weight and easy maintenance.

Demerits is susceptibility to EMI and HIRF.

thanks