EK 2108 Theory of Flight and Flight Control Assignment FLY-BY-WIRE Years ago, most of the aircrafts in aviation industry

y were using conventional manual flight control, which are controlled the flight control system by mechanical or hydro-mechanical power. The rolling, yawing or pitching movements of the aircraft are controlled by the pilots input to help stabilize the aircraft. These manual control systems are more heavier and need to be routing of flight control cables carefully through the aircraft by pulleys systems, cranks, cables and hydraulic pipes. These systems are always require extra backup in case of failure. However, because of further development, the conventional manual flight can be replaced by Fly-by-Wire system with an electronic interface. In fly-by-wire system, all of the flight control systems are using computers to process the flight control inputs made by the pilot, and converts it into electrical signals and transmitted by wire to the flight control surface. Thus, it means that the pilots input does not directly move the actuators of the control surface. There is also fly-by-optic-wire (FBOW) available now. The working principle used by fly-by-wire is the position of a control surface is sensed and a negative feedback is fed back to the aircraft flight control computer (FCC). When pilots input is made, the computer analyses the difference between the current position of control surface and the desired control surface position, and the appropriate corrective electrical signal is sent to the control surface by wire to follow the command of pilots input. Flight control computer regulates the control system by comparing current control surface position, output signal and pilot desired control surface position, input

signal. If any error between the two signals, it becomes the command to the flight control surface until the both signals are equal. Other than that, fly-by-wire control system can also be working automatically, its known as automatic stability system. Its allows the aircraft computer to perform tasks without pilots input. Sensors are fitted in gyroscopes that mounted in aircraft to sense pitching, yawing and rolling movements. These movement sensed by sensors and the signals transmitted to the flight control computer, which automatically moves control actuators to stabilize the aircraft. Fly-by-wire control system brings many advantages to aviation industry. One of the most important advantages is the fly-by-wire control system are much more lighter than conventional manual flight control system which contain cables, pulleys and so on. Based on the design of fly-by-wire control system, as name stated, it just requires wires to transmit the data signals, thats why the weight of the system is lighter. Weight saving is definitely a big advantage for aviation industry. Besides, fly-by-wire control system can perform task without pilot input, it is a advantage for pilot to prevent manual control flight for long duration. Moreover, electronic systems used in fly-by-wire system require less maintenance, unlike mechanical or hydraulic control systems need lubrication, tension adjustments, leak checks or fluid changes. In short, advantages of weight saving, improved reliability, damage tolerance and more effective control are brought by fly-bywire control systems. Unfortunately, although fly-by-wire system has brought a lot of advantages to the aviation industry, it has also brought some disadvantages as well. The fly-by-wire system

is made up by all electronic devices. Therefore, if there is a lightning strike on the aircraft, the lightning may affect the electronic easily, and it might cause the fly by wire control system breaks down. Thus, its dangerous to the aircraft if the control system has broken down, backup electrical wire must available to prevent hazard accident occurs. As a conclusion, due to the development of fly-by-wire, there are a lot of advantages had been brought to aviation industry. Nowadays, there are a lot of commercial aircrafts from Airbus and Boeing companies are using fly-by-wire control systems. The Airbus industries AIRBUS A320 became the first airliner to fly with all digital fly-by-wire control system. Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly-by-wire http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Fly-By-Wire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_flight_control_system Kingston Module 11