Actuator Evolution

1950’s Hydraulic actuators. Simplex,parallel tandem actuator configurations with redundancy facilities.

1960’s Enhanced control and safety. Actuators fitted with limited authority series actuators (electrically signaled). Dual concentric valve technology.

1970’s Full authority FBW with manual (signal) reversion. Quadruplex redundant electrically signaled (EHV’s) actuators with sophisticated reversion mechanisms. Electronic and Hydro-mechanical health monitoring and voting systems.

1980’s Full authority FBW. The introduction of improved computational electronics significantly improved the availability of actuation systems.

1990’s Full authority FBW. Direct Drive Valve technology universally accepted. e.g. EFA and JSF

2000’s The all electric aircraft? The introduction of primary EM actuators and braking systems are the key applications of this actuator technology.