Specifications

CT Corsair Final Report May 2, 2014
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The ninth deliverable was the addition of user-controlled three-axis motion using adjustable
joystick inputs.
The final deliverable was a study and preparation of the Prepar3D flight simulation software.
This software was outside the scope of our project goals and this deliverable is intended to assist
future design teams.
3.2 Overview and Description of Proposed Solution and Contingency Design
Restoration of the simulator’s 3-axis movement involves the interfacing of a user inputs to a
microcontroller. This communicates to three separate motor drives via analog communication
which in turn drive three rotational braking motors via an amplified signal. The motor shafts are
connected to gearboxes which modify the output torque and speed. The real position is read by
feedback devices. These devices communicate back to the microcontroller.
To select an effective gearbox/drive/motor combination, three companies were contacted; Moog,
Yaskawa, and Bosch Rexroth. Yaskawa motors are of exceptional quality but are expensive
compared to other motor brands. Moog has a branch completely dedicated to flight simulation.
They are also one of the only companies that sell both servo motors and drives. It is for this
reason Moog was selected as the motor supplier.
The team developed primary and backup motor design solutions. The primary solution utilizes a
Moog servo motor and analog drive system alongside the two original Nord braking induction
motors and KEB Combivert VFDs. Figure 5 illustrates this design scheme. The backup design
utilizes three Nord braking induction motors, two KEB VFDs and one Yaskawa VFD. During
the servo drive system development phase, this alternative contingency plan was created in the
event failure occurred with the servo drive system. The Yaskawa VFD in question was borrowed
for a short time from a generous faculty member at the University of Connecticut.
Figure 5: Visual Representation of Project Goals