With the evolution of brake-by-wire, electronic anti-skid and electronically controlled steering systems, high-reliability electronics are finding new applications in aircraft landing gear.
These technological advances are being introduced to reduce maintenance requirements, as well as improve control and reliability. Weight saving is another key objective: retractable landing gear can make up to 6% of the total weight of a modern aircraft.
What might look to the uninitiated as a fairly simple mechanical system is often packed with advanced electronics that perform a range of functions including monitoring wheel speeds, tyre pressures and brake temperatures. Electronics also control the landing gear extension and retraction sequences and door opening and closing.
Reliability in Challenging Operating Environments
Safe take-off, landing and taxiing in a modern commercial or military aircraft involves processing multiple electronic signals in real time with complete reliability.
The operating environment for aircraft landing gear is a challenging one. Electronic systems have to withstand substantial mechanical shocks – particularly on landing – absorb violent vibrations when taxiing and deal with extreme pressure and temperature variations.
It’s estimated that over half of the fatigue damage to landing gear components occurs when taxiing. So imagine what it could do to electronic products not specifically designed and tested for the environment.
Rapid Product Development
Added to this, manufacturers of landing gear control systems are under pressure to innovate and bring new products to market quickly with ultra-short development lifecycles.
This is a world away from high volume, low cost consumer electronics. It’s a world of rapid prototyping, and designing for optimal manufacturing, testing and reliability.
Total Traceability
It’s also a world where total product traceability is essential.
Traceability introduces strict control mechanisms into the supply chain and quality control systems so that only compliant and assured components enter the production facility. It also means that every component on every board is logged so that any issues identified in product testing or service can be quickly isolated and rectified.
If you’re interested in learning more about modern electronics manufacturing for high-reliability markets access our free resource centre to find out more.
