Methods and systems for controlling wheel brakes on aircraft and other vehicles

A method for slowing a vehicle on the ground, the vehicle having a wheel for supporting a portion of the vehicle on the ground, the vehicle further having a brake and a speed sensor associated with the wheel, the method comprising:

• receiving a control input to slow the vehicle;
• in response to receiving the control input, applying the brake to the wheel;
• determining if the speed sensor is operative;
• when the speed sensor is operative,
• determining if a first speed of the wheel differs from a second speed associated with the speed of the vehicle by a preset amount, the first speed being determined with the speed sensor;
• and
• if the first speed differs from the second speed by the preset amount, changing the application of the brake;
• when the speed sensor is inoperative, continuing to apply the brake to the wheel while receiving the control input.

A method for slowing a vehicle on the ground, the vehicle having at least first and second wheels for supporting at least a portion of the vehicle on the ground, the vehicle further having a first brake and a first speed sensor associated with the first wheel, and a second brake and a second speed sensor associated with the second wheel, the method comprising:

• receiving a control input to slow the vehicle;
• in response to receiving the control input, applying the first brake to the first wheel and the second brake to the second wheel;
• determining if the first speed sensor is operative;
• when the first speed sensor is operative,
• determining if a rate-of-change of speed of the first wheel exceeds a preset rate-of-change of speed, the rate-of-change of speed of the first wheel being determined with the first speed sensor;
• and
• if the rate-of-change of speed of the first wheel exceeds the preset rate-of-change of speed, changing the application of at least the first brake;
• when the first speed sensor is inoperative, determining if the second speed sensor is operative;
• when the second speed sensor is operative, determining if a rate-of-change of speed of the second wheel exceeds the preset rate-of-change of speed;
• and
• if the rate-of-change of speed of the second wheel exceeds the preset rate-of-change of speed, changing the application of at least the first brake.

A method for slowing a vehicle on the ground, the vehicle having at least first, second, and third wheels for supporting at least a portion of the vehicle on the ground, the vehicle further having a first brake and a first speed sensor associated with the first wheel, a second brake and a second speed sensor associated with the second wheel, and a third brake and a third speed sensor associated with the third wheel, the method comprising:

• receiving a control input to slow the vehicle;
• in response to receiving the control input, applying the first brake to the first wheel, the second brake to the second wheel, and the third brake to the third wheel;
• determining if the first, second, and third speed sensors are operative;
• when the first, second, and third speed sensors are operative,
• determining if a first speed of the first wheel differs from an average speed of the second and third wheels by a preset amount;
• and
• if the first speed differs from the average speed by the preset amount, changing the application of at least the first brake;
• when at least the first speed sensor is inoperative, continuing to apply the first brake to the first wheel while receiving the first control input.

A method for slowing a vehicle on the ground, the vehicle having a wheel for supporting a portion of the vehicle on the ground, the vehicle further having a brake and a speed sensor associated with the wheel, the method comprising:

• receiving a control input to slow the vehicle;
• determining if the speed sensor is operative;
• when the speed sensor is operative, controlling the brake according to a first routine in response to receiving the control input;
• and
• when the speed sensor is inoperative, controlling the brake according to a second routine in response to receiving the control input, the second routine being different than the first routine.

A system for slowing a vehicle on the ground, the vehicle having at least first and second wheels for supporting at least a portion of the vehicle on the ground, the vehicle further having a first brake and a first speed sensor associated with the first wheel, and a second brake and a second speed sensor associated with the second wheel, the system comprising:

• means for receiving a first control input to slow the vehicle;
• means for applying the first brake to the first wheel and the second brake to the second wheel in response to receiving the first request;
• means for determining if the first and second speed sensors are operative;
• means for determining if a first speed of the first wheel differs from a second speed of the second wheel by a preset amount when the first and second speed sensors are operative;
• means for changing the application of at least one of the first and second brakes if the first speed differs from the second speed by the preset amount;
• and
• means for continuing to apply the first brake to the first wheel and the second brake to the second wheel while receiving the first control input when at least one of the first and second speed sensors is inoperative.

A system for slowing a vehicle on the ground, the vehicle having a wheel for supporting a portion of the vehicle on the ground, the vehicle further having a brake and a speed sensor associated with the wheel, the system comprising:

• means for receiving a control input to slow the vehicle;
• means for determining if the speed sensor is operative;
• means for applying the brake to the wheel according to a first routine in response to receiving the control input when the speed sensor is operative;
• and
• means for applying the brake to the wheel according to a second routine in response to receiving the control input when the speed sensor is inoperative, the second routine being different than the first routine.

An aircraft system comprising:

• a first landing wheel configured to support at least a portion of an aircraft on the ground;
• at least a second landing wheel configured to support at least a portion of the aircraft on the ground;
• a first brake and a first speed sensor associated with the first wheel;
• a second brake and a second speed sensor associated with the second wheel;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to the first and second brakes and the first and second speed sensors, wherein the processor is configured to respond to a first control input to slow the aircraft by:
• applying the first brake to the first wheel and the second brake to the second wheel;
• determining if the first and second speed sensors are operative;
• when the first and second speed sensors are operative,
• determining if a first speed of the first wheel differs from a second speed of the second wheel by a preset amount;
• and
• if the first speed differs from the second speed by the preset amount, changing the application of at least one of the first and second brakes;
• when at least one of the first and second speed sensors is inoperative, continuing to apply the first brake to the first wheel and the second brake to the second wheel while receiving the first control input.