An Estimator for Aircraft Actuator Characteristics Using Singular Value Decomposition

Abstract

This paper illustrates how a Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and regression analyses can be used to create estimation models for aircraft actuator components by use of industrial data. The estimation models are at the end used to show how an electromechanical actuator´s weight and size will evolve with respect to output force. An essential step in the early design of aircraft is to be able to predict the weight and size of a resulting concept. This weight and size typically include contributions of main components such as wing and fuselage. Weight and size estimations at this stage can also range down to components at a sub-system level, for example, the aircraft actuators. The weight and size of an actuator depends on many parameters, and it is desirable to understand any underlying relationship to make qualified estimations of an actuator’s characteristics. However, the knowledge about a design is often limited at an early design stage and the required information is not always available. Consequently, estimations must be made from limited information and desired properties of the actuator. One way to approach this problem is to use SVD. An SVD analysis determines the most influential parameters in a data set and uses these to create an estimation model that only requires a few inputs for estimating the remaining parameters in the data set. An SVD can thereby be used for both identifying the driving parameters in a statistical dataset of existing solutions and to estimate the characteristics of new designs to be developed.