Flight controls are mainly systems and all other tools that help to direct and dictate the path followed by an aircraft, especially when taking off or landing.
Flight control systems have grown gradually over the years into more complex but reliable and convenient systems. Long ago, control systems were almost mechanical or just manual, which were very simple systems.
Over years, there has been a rapid increase in speed and size of aircrafts. Also, safety and efficiency in flights has been given priority. This has called for more advanced power control systems which were less mechanical but more complex to use.
Due to changes in technology and complexity, there has been a great change in the approach. The responsibility of system design and configuration was left with aircraft manufacturers. They thus defined major features of the system. However, suppliers were left to design the required equipment but under specification given by the aircraft manufacturers. Due to the need to cut the operation cost and also aircraft weight, the system’s complexity continues to grow and advance.
Two Major Advancements in Flight Controls
1. Fly-By-Wire
Aircrafts are usually assigned limits in altitude to fly at. Manually, it may not be accurately done. The flight limit envelope may be exceeded or even fall below the required level to increase accuracy in flight altitude limits. The fly-by-wire flight control system has been introduced. Simply, the pilot’s commands are directed into a computer with special programs. These programs then respond and ensure that the aircraft remains in accurate flight envelope
To cater for computer failures, a number of computers are employed in control system. Each computer is monitored by one or even more computers, before it can perform any command on control surface movement.
A failure of one computer can thus be checked by other computers before adverse outcomes and can be corrected in time. This ensures maximum safety and efficiency in aircraft flights.
2. Intelligent Flight Controls
Usually, aircrafts are assigned to specific altitudes as flight envelopes, which may change over the flights. An intelligent flight control system has the capability to learn from its environment and experiences over time. Computer programs specially designed for this purpose are ones that are mainly used.
Where conflicts are encountered or change of weather conditions, the intelligent control system is automatically capable of reassigning different altitudes as per the requirements. This has greatly minimized aircrafts’ accidents while maximizing efficiency of flights.
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