Rotary actuator for flight control surface

A rotary actuator for moving a flight control surface of an aircraft, comprising:

• a first electric motor drivably connected to a first geartrain having a plurality of planetary gearsets arranged in series;
• a first drive gear driven by the first electric motor via the first geartrain, wherein the first geartrain and the first drive gear define a first powertrain;
• and
• an output shaft arranged parallel to the first powertrain and configured to be driven by the first drive gear.

A rotary actuator, comprising:

• a first powertrain that includes a first electric motor, a first geartrain operably coupled with the first electric motor and having at least one gearset, and a first drive gear operably coupled with the first electric motor via the first geartrain;
• a second powertrain that includes a second electric motor, a second geartrain operably coupled with the second electric motor and having at least one gearset, and a second drive gear operably coupled with the second electric motor via the second geartrain, wherein the first electric motor is positioned axially adjacent to the second electric motor, the first geartrain is positioned axially adjacent to the first electric motor, and the second geartrain is positioned axially adjacent to the second electric motor, such that the first and second electric motors are positioned axially between the first and second geartrains;
• and
• an output shaft arranged parallel to the first and second powertrains and configured to be driven by the first and second powertrains.