Raytheon Company

Donald E Croft

Christopher P Owan

Shane P Stilson

Charles M De Lair

Russell B Cline

Jeffery P Sowers

Jason M Bain

Charles M Delair

Karl F Spiessbach

R Brian Cline

Some embodiments relate to a method of controlling a flight of a flight vehicle according to a first mode of operation and changing the mode of operation to a second mode of operation having a different bandwidth than the first mode of operation. Other embodiments relate to a flight-control system for a flight vehicle configured to control a flight of a flight vehicle according to a first mode of operation and to control the flight of the flight vehicle according to a second mode of operation to use less energy than the first mode of operation. Other embodiments relate to a control actuation system configured to control positions of aerodynamic elements in a flight vehicle in response to commands from a guidance system according to a first mode of operation and to change the mode of operation to a second mode of operation having a different bandwidth than the first mode of operation.

Variable bandwidth control actuation methods and apparatus

A dynamic load fixture (DLF) applies a torsion load to a unit under test (UUT) to achieve the demanding aerodynamic load exposures encountered by a control actuation system (CAS) in flight. Instead of fixing the end of the torsion bar, the DLF controls the application of torque to the torsion bar, hence the UUT via a DLF motor. The dynamic load can be independent of the angular rotation of the UUT, which allows the DLF to more effectively reproduce desired acceptance tests such as torque-at-rate and nonlinear loads. Furthermore, application of the loads through a torsion bar allows the system the compliance needed to generate precise loads while allowing for the flexibility of changing torsion bars to test a wide variety of UUT on one test platform. To achieve the demanding aerodynamic load exposures encountered by a CAS in flight, the controller must be able to respond both very fast and very precisely. Control is enhanced by the thorough characterization of the DLF and application of either 'classic' negative feedback control or 'modern' state-space control methods of linear observers and quadratic optimum control.

Dynamic load fixture for application of torsion loads for rotary mechanical systems

A dynamic load fixture (DLF) for testing a unit under test (UUT) includes a lateral load system that applies a time-varying lateral load profile to the UUT drive shaft and an encoder that measures its angular rotation. An isolation stage suitably constrains the encoder from rotating about the axis while allowing it to move in other directions in which the application of the lateral force induces motion. The lateral load system includes a load bearing around the drive shaft, an actuator that applies a lateral force to the load bearing, a force sensor for measuring the applied lateral force, and a lateral controller for adjusting a command signal to the actuator to implement a lateral load profile. The DLF may also include a torsion load system that applies a time-varying torsion load profile to the drive shaft.

Dynamic load fixture for rotary mechanical systems

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Donald E Croft