MECHAURA 2024

Design Dexterity Challenge

22nd April to 5th May 2024

© 2024 RTX.
All rights reserved.
CONTROLLED DESCEND
Background:
Utility actuators are used to open & close heavy
doors in aircraft for various maintenance
purposes.
They maybe pneumatically, electro-hydraulically
or electro-mechanically operated to lift the door
weight. Post maintenance, they may be allowed
to retract under the influence of the door’s self
weight. For instance, the picture showing the fan
cowl opened for maintenance activity.
However, for safety reasons & operator Image source:
experience the door descend rate needs to be https://www.collinsaerospace.com/what-we-do/industries/commercial-aviation/power-controls-actuation/ac
tuation/nacelle-actuation

limited by built-in devices in actuator (i.e. without

use of external power source)

Collins PDOS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVLaUXU4Uz4

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 Next Gen Actuator Design
X

W Y

1300 kg
Objective: A safe solution that can implemented to lower the door weight under the
influence of gravity at a controlled rate without use of any external source of power.

Stroke 500 mm
Functional req:
 Actuator retraction rate shall be less than 25 mm/s anytime through out retraction
phase. The retraction time must fall within the range of 20 to 60 seconds.

1500 mm
Architecture req:

Actuator when Retracted

 Proposed actuator needs to fit in a cylindrical envelope of Ø 80 mm, 1500 mm long

Actuator When fully

see figure for space envelope for

Extended
Temperature req:
 Actuator shall be operable between -40 deg C to +80 deg C

Duty req:
 Actuator shall be capable of 3 back-to-back operating cycle over the temperature
range mentioned above (one cycle = Fully open – fully close. Opening/ lifting of the door weight is not scope of this Gravity
challenge)
An illustration depicting the dead weight of an open door
requiring controlled descent over the indicated distance

A conceptual design of Collins Next Gen Actuator for opening an aircraft engine fan cowl.

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Evaluation criteria
Guidelines Weightage
Novelty: Detail the proposed solution model. Welcoming inventive and unique 50%
suggestions, with a strong emphasis on providing a clear explanation of the concept.
Design
Newer technologies will be weighed higher in comparison to conventional designs /
mechanisms

25%
Design Demonstrate the design robustness by use free body diagrams with defined boundary
Calculation conditions and/or mathematical models.

15%
System Include effect of ambient temperature and continuous operation on the system
performance performance

10%
Material
Rough bill of materials (BOM)
Selection

Innovative designs with clear explanation of the physics are weighted high.

4
Solution
Concept / Idea explanation

5
Solution
Physics , FBD, Hand Calculation

6
Solution
2D Drawing / CAD

7
Solution
2D Drawing / CAD

8
Solution
Miscellaneous – BOM , system performance

9
Thank you

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