Smart Active Inceptor is part of new generation pilot controls that is improving piloting, reducing pilot’s workload and increasing safety on board. Thanks to electric control loop, it provides new functionalities not feasible via classic solutions using simple springs, such as electric coupling, real time modification of control laws to reflect aircraft situation, shaking, …. . In a simple word, it gives back to the pilot the feeling of piloting.
Thus an electronic unit is required to manage all aspects of this new product, including power supply and control.
This new electronics unit (BICU) for Smart Active Inceptor was successfully developed by the Consortium in close collaboration with Topic Leader Safran Electronics & Defense .
The main challenge addressed within SIBACK project was to integrate all required complex functionalities in the allowed case. Several daughter boards have been integrated to optimize the space used in the case.
An efficient design was achieved in terms of compromise between Compactness, Weight and Performance. The BICU has been integrated in a 2MCU casing achieving to maintain a low weight.
This level of service was achieved thanks to a close collaboration between Topic leader Safran Electronics & Defense and Coordinator TRONICO. The final BICU demonstrator was released meeting a TRL4. Next step, performed by Topic Leader, is to integrate the electronic unit with the electro-mechanical device and applicative software in order to proceed with functional and performance tests and reach TRL5.
The BICU was developed with maximum modularity in order to address different markets. It can be customized easily to meet different platform constraints. The standard size of the BICU (ARINC600 2 MCU) allows an easy integration on different platform; this constraint were a real challenge for the design team. Thermal constraints have been taken into account be thermal modeling ensuring a good level of efficiency of BICU.
For maintainability purposes, a modular electronics has been designed, including standard modules from Safran Electronics & Defense . CTRL board on COM or MON channel are similar that optimize the maintainability of the product. This point was a real challenge since COM and Mon boards are similar. Indeed, all boards X-talk channel have been managed thought FdP Boards leading to a complexy of the PCB routing and manufacturing activities.
Some technological bricks have been developed to address BICU technical constraints. For example, the power balance between both A/C 28V DC power sources: The BICU is powered by 2 lines 28V to provides 2 times 15A (30A); The aim of this function is to balance the consumption on each 28V channel (one 28V channel can have a real voltage at 16V and the second one at 32V ➔ the drawn power on each channel will be identical) »
