actuatorOS

Experiential Learning Project: Electrical Actuator Operating System for Avionics

Team Members:

1. Suhana Arsh
2. Sadiq Ali
3. Veerabhadrayya C Roogi

Course Information:

• Course Name: Fundamentals of Avionics
• Instructor: Professor Deepak Bana

Project Overview:

Welcome to our Experiential Learning project on designing an Electrical Actuator Operating System for avionics. This project is part of the "Fundamentals of Avionics" course, where we, as aerospace engineering students, aim to develop a microcontroller-based system that controls two electrical actuators with linear extension and retraction in synchronization. The primary objective of this project is to create an efficient and precise control system that can be used in various avionics applications to enhance safety and performance.

Problem Statement:

The core challenge of our project is to design and implement an Electrical Actuator Extension and Retraction System suitable for avionics. The system must integrate a microcontroller to control two electrical actuators, ensuring they extend linearly for 15 cm and retract 10 cm out of the total 15 cm extension. For practicality and cost-effectiveness, we will select commercially available electrical actuators and components, considering their parameters and compatibility with the overall system. Additionally, we will carefully choose a suitable power supply (battery) and estimate the maximum power consumption during the extension and retraction processes.

Project Scope:

Our project involves a comprehensive and systematic approach to tackle the various aspects of designing and developing the Electrical Actuator Operating System for avionics. The key components of our project scope include:

1. Literature Survey: Conduct a thorough review of existing research, technical papers, and relevant literature on electrical actuators, microcontrollers, and their applications in avionics. This will provide us with valuable insights and serve as a foundation for our project.

2. System Analysis and Specification: Define the requirements and specifications of the Electrical Actuator Operating System based on the application in avionics. Analyze the system's key parameters such as actuator speed, load capacity, power requirements, and precision of control.

3. Simulink-based Model Development: Create a detailed Simulink-based model to simulate the Electrical Actuator Operating System. This will help us validate the system's behavior, identify potential issues, and optimize its performance before physical implementation.

4. Component Selection and Hardware Design: Select suitable commercially available electrical actuators, microcontrollers, sensors, and other components based on our system's requirements. Design the hardware layout, including schematics and PCB layouts, to integrate these components effectively.

5. Control Algorithm Implementation: Develop advanced control algorithms to ensure synchronized and precise linear extension and retraction of the electrical actuators. The algorithms will be fine-tuned to achieve optimal performance while maintaining stability and safety.

6. Hardware Implementation and Testing: Assemble the hardware components and implement the developed control algorithms. Conduct rigorous testing and calibration to verify the system's functionality and adherence to safety standards.

7. Documentation and Reporting: Prepare a comprehensive project report detailing the entire development process, methodologies, results, and findings. The documentation will provide a complete understanding of our project to readers.

8. Presentation and Demonstration: Create an engaging and informative presentation to effectively communicate the project's objectives, progress, and outcomes to our peers, instructors, and other interested parties.

GitHub Repository:

Our GitHub repository serves as the central hub for all project-related files and documentation. It is organized into the following directories:

1. Literature_Survey: Contains research papers, technical articles, and reference materials relevant to our project's subject matter.

2. Simulink_Model: Includes the Simulink-based model developed to validate the Electrical Actuator Operating System's behavior and performance.

3. Hardware_Design: Contains the hardware design files, including schematics, PCB layouts, and component specifications.

4. Arduino_Code: Contains the Arduino microcontroller code that drives the Electrical Actuator Operating System. The code includes the algorithms for actuator control, sensor interfacing, and communication with other system components.

5. CAD_Files: Holds the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) files for the mechanical components and assembly of the Electrical Actuator Operating System. This directory contains 3D models and drawings of the actuators, mounting brackets, and any other mechanical parts.

6. Control_Algorithms: Includes the source code and implementation of the control algorithms for precise actuator control.

7. Testing_and_Validation: Contains test cases, experimental data, and results obtained during system validation.

8. Documentation: Holds the final project report, presentation slides, and any additional documentation.

Note to Visitors:

We invite you to explore our GitHub repository to gain insights into our Experiential Learning project on the Electrical Actuator Operating System for avionics. Our project is the result of dedicated teamwork, cutting-edge engineering principles, and passion for aerospace applications.

Acknowledgments:

We express our heartfelt gratitude to Professor Deepak Bana for his invaluable guidance, mentorship, and support throughout the "Fundamentals of Avionics" course and this Experiential Learning project. We also extend our thanks to our peers for their collaboration and contributions to the success of this endeavor.

Disclaimer:

Please be aware that this project is undertaken solely for academic and learning purposes. The Electrical Actuator Operating System developed as part of this project is not intended for actual use in avionics or any other critical applications. The project documentation and code provided are for educational and informational purposes only.