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CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 7, 2004. Goodrich Corporation announced today it has been chosen to provide an electrically actuated braking system for production versions of a high-endurance, unmanned reconnaissance vehicle -- Northrop Grumman's "Global Hawk."
The electric braking system is based on an existing Goodrich wheel and brake design modified for electric rather than hydraulic actuation. Integration of the system will be performed by Goodrich's Troy, Ohio-based Aircraft Wheels and Brakes division and will include electric actuators from Goodrich's Actuation Systems division as well as a system control from the company's Fuel and Utility Systems division.
The Global Hawk aircraft equipped with the Goodrich electric braking system will begin flight tests in the summer of 2005. First production vehicle flight is scheduled for late 2005. Goodrich previously flight tested a similar system on an F-16 aircraft, and will work closely with Northrop Grumman systems engineers to integrate the braking system with the vehicle for autonomous operation.
"The Global Hawk braking system is the first, fully-integrated, electrically actuated brake and brake control system to be put into production by Goodrich. Functions of the system include autobrake control, differential braking control, antiskid protection, and built-in test capability for continuous monitoring of the system condition," said Jeff Atkinson, director of military programs for Goodrich's Wheels and Brakes division.
"In April 2001, Northrop Grumman made aviation history when the Global Hawk completed the first non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean by an unmanned powered aircraft. It seems fitting, then, that the Global Hawk will now be associated with another milestone by being equipped with the first production version of a fully-functional electrically actuated braking system," he said.
An electric braking system differs from a hydraulic design as electrically driven actuators replace the hydraulic pistons used to provide clamping force to the brakes' carbon heatsink. Multiple actuators enhance system redundancy by compensating for system failures and providing braking force in excess of nominal ratings. The advantages of an electric brake include the elimination of hydraulic lines, which significantly reduce the vehicle's parts count, thus providing improved system reliability and reduced installation and support costs associated with fluid leakage and operational maintenance requirements.
For more information, see www.goodrich.com.
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