Prognostic Models and Remaining Life Predictions for Flight Control Actuators

"Impact Technologies, in collaboration with Boeing Phantom Works and Moog Inc., proposes to develop and demonstrate a prognostic modeling paradigm for use with actuator fault detection to failure progression. Actuators are complex mechanisms utilized invarious aircraft systems from flight control surfaces to landing gear, cargo doors and weapon systems. Impact has previously developed PHM techniques applicable to hydraulic pumps and engine control system components. These proven approaches along withnovel tracking methods will be pursued in this research, using system models, failure mode diagnostics, advanced knowledge fusion, and failure mode progression (prognostic) algorithms in a probabilistic framework. Utilizing available real-timecommand/response data from actual flight control actuators and this model-based framework, Impact will demonstrate prognostic algorithms that provide an assessment of the current actuator health state and provide a prognosis of the actuator's useful liferemaining. The adaptation of these methods and architecture to hydraulic, hydro-electrical, and electrical actuator systems will also be addressed. BenefitsThe deployed actuator diagnostic/prognostic techniques and associated reasoning architecture generated under this program will improve aircraft control system safety and reliability, allow for optimized maintenance/logistics planning, reduceownership costs, and increase operational availability. The