Durable Magnetorheological Actuators for Aircraft Primary Flight Systems

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Magnetorheological (MR) fluid actuators are a new technology resulting from and developed since 2008 by the University of Sherbrooke in collaboration with the Quebec aerospace ecosystem, in particular with Bell Textron Canada Limited. The technology offers control performance far superior to traditional hydraulic actuators while being lighter, cleaner, and less expensive. Many applications are being co-developed between Bell Textron Canada Limited and Exonetik, a young Sherbrooke company with 30 employees aiming to commercialize magnetorheological technology. Although magnetorheological actuators are fundamentally reliable because they do not have positive mechanical contacts, their mechanism of degradation over time is less well known. The project will undertake an exhaustive experimental study of magnetorheological actuators in order to identify their failure modes, their mechanisms of aging, and of course technological solutions that extend their lifetime limit. In parallel, a technology demonstration will be carried out on a full-scale application selected by Bell Textron Canada Limited. The project is supported by a complete industrial innovation chain including an integrator client, Bell Textron Canada Limited, two technology specialists, Exonetik and Infineum, and a certification / operation specialist, Gastops. Understanding of the aging of magnetorheological actuators provided by this research project is essential to commercialize this new Quebec technology in the aerospace sector where safety is critical. The project can bring many economic benefits to Quebec and Canada. These benefits include increased competitiveness of OEM manufacturers like Bell Textron Canada Limited, support for the growth of start-ups like Exonetik, strengthening of strategic partnerships outside Quebec with Gastops and Infineum, creation of high value job creation here in Quebec, and export of indigenous technology to international markets. In addition, the knowledge generated by this project will apply not only to the aerospace sector, but to all economic sectors where magnetorheological actuators apply: such as automotive and robotics, two sectors in which Exonetik is strongly active.