Title :
Civil air transport: a fresh look at power-by-wire and fly-by-light
Author :
Sundberg, Gale R.
Author_Institution :
NASA Lewis Res. Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
Abstract :
Power-by-wire (PBW) is a key element under subsonic transport flight systems technology, with potential savings of over 10% in gross take off weight and in fuel consumption compared to today´s transport aircraft. The PBW technology substitutes electrical actuation in place of centralized hydraulic, uses internal starter-motor/generators, and eliminates the need for variable engine bleed air to supply cabin comfort. The application of advanced fiber optics to the electrical power system controls, to built-in-test (BITE) equipment, and to fly-by-light (FBL) flight controls provides additional benefits in lightning and high-energy radio frequency (HERF) immunity over existing mechanical or even fly-by-wire controls. The program plan is reviewed. The key technologies and their benefits to future aircraft, civil and military, are discussed
Keywords :
aircraft control; aircraft instrumentation; built-in self test; electric actuators; fibre optics; power supplies to apparatus; BITE; FBL; NASA; PBW; advanced fiber optics; aircraft control; civil air transport; electrical actuation; electrical power system controls; flight controls; fly-by-light; fuel consumption; high-energy radio frequency; lightning; military aircraft; power distribution; power-by-wire; subsonic transport flight systems; Aerospace control; Aircraft propulsion; Engines; Fuels; Lightning; Mechanical variables control; Military aircraft; Optical fibers; Power system control; Radio frequency;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace and Electronics Conference, 1990. NAECON 1990., Proceedings of the IEEE 1990 National
Conference_Location :
Dayton, OH
DOI :
10.1109/NAECON.1990.112974
