METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING PERFORMANCE OF FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACE SYSTEMS

• Main Authors: Hughes, Gregory John, Dreyfoos, Aron Whittemore, Ramos, Andres, Finigan, John Scott
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.07.2021
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING ORREPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLYADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFTCOMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MEASURING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; TESTING; TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES ORSTRUCTURES; TESTING STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSPORTING

A method, apparatus, and system for testing a performance of a device under different load conditions is provided. A load profile to be applied to the device by a linkage system that includes a support member, a load member, and an actuating member is identified. A value for a setting of an actuator of the actuating member is determined based on the load profile. The actuator is operated with the setting having the value determined such that a load is applied to a control surface of the device via the load member. The load applied to the control surface is determined by both the value for the setting of the actuator and a geometry of the linkage system.