In-Service Health Monitoring of Flight Control Actuators

The ability to monitor the operating characteristics of flight control actuators with embedded microprocessors is now feasible and cost effective. Although central computers can be used for the purpose, there are significant advantages in using a health monitoring system incorporated in the flight control actuators. The advantages include reducing the communication load with the central computer and retaining the performance history with the actuator.This proposal establishes a methodology for implementing a health monitoring system for hydraulic and electrical flight actuators.