Demonstrations of the hybrid control concept for vibration reduction on helicopters

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A unique active control system for reducing vibration and noise on helicopters will be demonstarted in whirl tower (or centrifugal) tests and computer simulations. The system was developed by the two applicants at Carleton University and stands out from other control systems by being the first one to employ both Flow Control and Structural Control devices on each helicopter blade. For this reason, the concept is named as Hybrid Control and its main benefits are that it allows to obtain superior effiociency in reducing vibration as well as promises to be the first system to reduce vibration and noise simulataneously. A key element of the Hybrid Control concept is the Active Pitch Link, which is the first ever working prototype of a device which can control the structural response of the blade. The unique concept of the Hybrid Control system as well as the design of the Active Pitch Link has been patent protected and designed to be Fail Safe in the case of power output or actuator failure. If the demonstrations outlined in this proposal are successful, it will open the door towards commercialization of the product, which is envisioned to be manufactured and supplied to helicopter manufacturers by a Canadian spin-off company emloying about 40-55 people.