Predicting Faults and Determining Life of Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA) System for Engine and Aerospace Applications

ABSTRACT: Frontier Technology, Inc. (FTI), in partnership with the Moog Aircraft Group and with support from Lockheed Martin, will develop and demonstrate real-time electro-mechanical actuator (EMA) prognostic health management (PHM) software that identifies future EMA faults and predicts remaining useful life (RUL) at least two mission profiles prior to failure. EMAs have significant advantages over hydraulic systems particularly in aerospace applications. However, their unexpected temporal malfunction or failure can have catastrophic consequences for systems in which they are included. The software developed by FTI will provide the ability to detect, identify and determine the impact of anomalous conditions before they result in a malfunction of the EMA. Phase II will develop and test real-time PHM algorithms on fielded or advanced development EMAs. The research will use closed loop seeded faults and comparisons to actuator historical data to quantify fault prediction goals and confirm RUL analysis. FTI will demonstrate the ability to perform real-time diagnosis at least two mission cycles prior fault conditions including identification of the fault mode, the prediction of RUL and the recommended corrective action. The technology will be expandable multiple EMA configurations as well as other airborne electro-mechanical systems.