Actuator systems and associated methods for unmanned air vehicles and other applications

An actuator system, comprising:

• a first structure;
• a second structure movable relative to the first structure;
• an actuator apparatus having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion when the actuator apparatus is actuated;
• an actuator device having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion when the actuator device is actuated, the actuator apparatus and the actuator device being coupled in series between the first structure and the second structure;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the actuator apparatus and the actuator device, the controller programmed with instructions to automatically actuate the actuator apparatus and the actuator device so that a position of the first structure relative to the second structure after the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated is at least approximately the same as a position of the first structure relative to the second structure before the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated.

An actuator system, comprising:

• a first structure;
• a second structure movable relative to the first structure;
• an actuator apparatus having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion when the actuator apparatus is actuated;
• an actuator device having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion when the actuator device is actuated, the actuator apparatus and the actuator device being coupled in series between the first structure and the second structure;
• an electro-mechanical sensor having a sensor position corresponding to at least one of a relative position between the first and second portions of the actuator apparatus and a relative position between the first and second portion of the actuator device;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the actuator apparatus and the actuator device, the controller programmed with instructions to automatically actuate the actuator apparatus and the actuator device so that a position of the first structure relative to the second structure after the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated is at least approximately the same as a position of the first structure relative to the second structure before the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated, the sensor position being different after the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated as compared to before the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated.

An actuator system, comprising:

• a first structure;
• a second structure movable relative to the first structure;
• an actuator apparatus having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion when the actuator apparatus is actuated;
• an actuator device having a first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion when the actuator device is actuated, the actuator apparatus and the actuator device being coupled in series between the first structure and the second structure;
• and
• control means for providing instructions to the actuator apparatus and the actuator device to automatically actuate the actuator apparatus and the actuator device so that a position of a first structure relative to a second structure after the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated is at least approximately the same as a position of the first structure relative to the second structure before the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated.

A method for positioning an actuator system, comprising:

• automatically sending one or more inputs from a controller to an actuator apparatus and an actuator device, the one or more inputs commanding the actuation of the actuator apparatus and the actuator device;
• actuating the actuator apparatus to move a first portion of the actuator apparatus relative to a second portion of the actuator apparatus in response to the one or more inputs;
• and
• actuating the actuator device to move a first portion of the actuator device relative to a second portion of the actuator device in response to the one or more inputs, the actuator apparatus and the actuator device being coupled in series between a first structure and a second structure, wherein a position of the first structure relative to the second structure after the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated is at least approximately the same as a position of the first structure relative to the second structure before the actuator apparatus and the actuator device are actuated.

A method for positioning an actuator system, comprising:

• sensing a sensor position of an electro-mechanical sensor, the sensor position corresponding to at least one of a relative position between a first portion and a second portion of an actuator apparatus and a relative position between a first portion and a second portion of an actuator device;
• automatically sending one or more inputs from a controller to the actuator apparatus and the actuator device, the one or more inputs commanding the actuation of the actuator apparatus and the actuator device;
• actuating the actuator apparatus to move the first portion of the actuator apparatus relative to the second portion of the actuator apparatus in response to the one or more inputs;
• and
• actuating the actuator device to move the first portion of the actuator device relative to the second portion of the actuator device in response to the one or more inputs, the actuator apparatus and the actuator device being coupled in series between a first structure and a second structure, wherein a position of the first structure relative to the second structure after the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated is at least approximately the same as a position of the first structure relative to the second structure before the actuator apparatus and the actuator device are actuated, and wherein the sensor position is different after the actuator apparatus and the actuator device have been actuated as compared to before the actuator apparatus and the actuator device are actuated.