Wing fold controller

A method of limiting a force required from a wing fold actuator output, the method comprising:

• connecting a wing fold actuator to an unfixed portion of a wing;
• connecting a power drive unit to the wing fold actuator;
• controlling, via a control module, a power supplied to the power drive unit;
• controlling an angular free play of the unfixed portion of the wing relative to a fixed portion of the wing while transitioning a lock in a latch;
• using a signal from an aircraft system sensor and a signal from an environment sensor and determining, in a flight controls computer in real time:
• an actual moment about a centerline axis of the wing fold actuator, caused by an actual load on the unfixed portion;
• and
• a limit to a power supplied to the wing fold actuator based on the determined actual moment;
• and
• regulating the power supplied via the control module to the power drive unit based on the determined power limit.

A method of controlling an angular free play of an unfixed portion of a wing relative to a fixed portion of the wing while transitioning a lock in a latch and limiting a force at a wing fold actuator output and thereby increasing a mean time between replacement of a wing fold actuator, the method comprising executing a specially programmed code in a processor and thereby:

• receiving status information and environment condition information;
• executing an algorithm in the specially programmed code determining a power supply from a control module for transitioning the unfixed portion of the wing between a flight position and an on-ground position, based on the status information and environment conditions;
• regulating the power supply from the control module controlling a force at an output device of the wing fold actuator, such that based upon a real time determination of an actual moment about a central axis of the wing fold actuator, a flight controls computer commands the control module to reduce, from a maximum power available from a power system, a power supplied to the wing fold actuator to a level required to move, at a specified rate, the unfixed portion of the wing;
• and
• activating at least one of:
• engagement, and disengagement, of the lock with the latch for a folding wing.