High-Bandwidth Servovalve for Motion Simulation

Hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) motion simulation is a valuable tool in testing and development of missile seekers and other sensor assemblies. It allows development to happen on the ground and lowers risks in flight testing. Increased bandwidth in the simulation is desired to enhance the fidelity of the testing. Existing systems that use servohydraulic actuation are fundamentally constrained because of limits in servovalve and other components. Yet hydraulic actuation retains advantages in the levels of force that can be generated in a compact volume. The key element is the servovalve. This research concentrates on the development of high bandwidth servovalve. A piezoelectric-driven servovalve design will be completed, built and tested. These units will be installed in actuators that will in turn be sized to be retrofit to an existing flight motion simulator. The actuators will be installed, and the simulator tested extensively. The result will be a high bandwidth HWIL system for testing of missile seekers. The augmented HWIL simulator will be exercised to provide motion inputs for payloads directly traceable to MKV, THAAD and other programs.