AVX Aircraft has won a Defense Department contract to continue the development of an all-electric flight control system (AEFCS) for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) in collaboration with Moog. The system will use electro-mechanical actuator technologies to replace hydraulic systems on legacy and next-generation helicopters.
“The electric flight control technology being developed by the AVX/Moog team provides numerous benefits to our customers to include: safety, weight reduction, reduced maintenance, and life-cycle cost savings,” said Kendall Goodman, AVX president.
“We are excited to build upon our solid relationship with AVX. Drawing upon our foundational technologies, our complementary team efforts will rapidly mature the AEFCS for the U.S. Army and unlock the many significant cost and performance benefits associated with the electrification of rotorcraft,” said Jim Riedel, Moog Group vice president of agile prime pursuits.
AVX joins Airbus and Bell in investigating the increased use of electrified systems on rotorcraft. Bell has been flying its electrically distributed anti-torque (EDAT) system since 2019 on one of its 429 twins. EDAT significantly reduces helicopter noise, augments power to the main rotor, and simplifies maintenance by replacing the tailrotor with a series of four ducted fans embedded in the vertical stabilizer. Each fan is powered by its own electric motor and inputs to the system are controlled via fly-by-wire. EDAT eliminates the need for tailrotor mechanical systems, including driveshafts and gearboxes. Using electric power to provide tailrotor thrust has long been a topic of investigation for helicopters. In 2017, researchers at Italy’s L’Aquila University evaluated it for an Airbus EC130.
Airbus also is testing an engine backup system on its H130 helicopter “Flightlab” that uses a 100-kW electric motor to provide electric power for up to 30 seconds in the event of main turbine engine failure. According to Airbus, the motor is connected to the main gearbox and gives pilots extra time to react, maintain rotor speed, and enter a smoother autorotation.