Design of an Electromechanical Fin Actuation Mechanism and Experimental Study of Power Consumption of the Mechanism

Abstract

Fixed-wing flying objects use control surface (fin) motions to balance and adjust flight directions. Mechanisms used to move
control surfaces can be designed as hydraulic, pneumatic or electromechanical. In this study, an electromechanical fin actuation
mechanism is designed. The kinematic equations of this the mechanism are derived and position, velocity and acceleration
analyses are performed. The results obtained from these analyses are used as an input in the dynamic equations which include
friction to calculate the power consumption of the mechanism. A test bench is used to investigate the accuracy of the analytical
model. The mechanism is tested on the test bench under certain fin loads and speeds. The power consumption of the mechanism
is found and compared with the results which are obtained from the analytical model. Tests are repeated for different fin loads,
speeds and the cases (ball bearing or bushing) to verify the results of the analytical model. The results obtained from the tests and
analytical model show that, the difference between them does not exceed 8%. Due to uncertainties of the measurement technique
and uncertainties of friction coefficients, it is can be said that the results obtained from the tests are acceptable for the verification
of the analytical model.