Platform and ground integration
Interfaces, configuration and through-life information
Defines how equipment status, constraints and support information connect with the wider operating and maintenance concept.
Technology and assurance
Engineering discipline from concept to evidence.
AEMS develops the mechanism, electronics, control, sensing and health insight as parts of one safety-critical system.
Integrated, evidence-led development
A system, not a collection of parts
Behaviour is designed across every layer.
A safety-critical actuator is defined by more than force, stroke and speed.
The intended function, operating environment, failure response, interfaces and maintenance concept shape the architecture from the outset. AEMS uses that whole-system view to connect design decisions to the evidence needed later.
Integrated system layers
One operating concept, four connected views.
Each layer is developed against the same intended function and defined interfaces, so the equipment response remains coherent at platform level.
Health and assurance
Diagnostics, condition insight and remaining capability
Turns relevant equipment data into information that can support proportionate engineering and operational decisions.
Control and sensing
Command, monitoring and defined state management
Coordinates movement and observes system state against application-specific operating and fault-response requirements.
Electromechanical actuation
Motor, transmission, structure and mechanical interfaces
Creates controlled motion while managing the loads, duty cycle, installation constraints and environmental conditions of the application.
Design principles
Built around predictable behaviour.
Final architecture is tailored to the aircraft function. These principles provide the common engineering foundation.
Fault tolerance by architecture
Critical functions and failure responses are considered before detailed design choices are fixed.
Independence and segregation
Potential common causes and unintended interactions are addressed through appropriate physical and functional boundaries.
Modularity with controlled interfaces
Defined boundaries support configuration, integration, replacement and future evolution without losing system coherence.
Predictable fault response
Continued operation, degraded operation or position behaviour is selected to match the intended system outcome.
Embedded diagnostics
Useful state and health information is designed in, supporting verification and through-life decisions.
Maintainability by design
Access, inspection, interchangeability and configuration control are considered alongside performance.
Assurance pathway
Evidence grows with design maturity.
Activities are planned to reduce uncertainty, test assumptions and create traceable support for each important design claim.
- 01Intended function and requirements
Define behaviours, interfaces, environments and measurable acceptance criteria.
- 02Safety analysis
Identify failure conditions, contributing causes and the objectives allocated to the equipment.
- 03Architecture modelling
Assess system behaviour, dependencies and interfaces before committing to detail.
- 04Prototype and bench evidence
Use representative hardware and rigs to test performance, control and failure-response assumptions.
- 05Environmental and endurance evidence
Demonstrate performance across relevant loads, duty cycles and operating conditions.
- 06Qualification and certification engagement
Align the compliance route, evidence set and independent review with the intended application.
Development context: Current concept and prototype activity is not, by itself, product qualification or certification. The applicable objectives and evidence programme will be agreed for each application.
Evidence domains
Claims supported from more than one direction.
Specific methods, independence levels and acceptance criteria will depend on function criticality and the agreed assurance basis.
| Domain | Typical methods | Intended outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Functional and system | Requirements analysis, architecture review, modelling and integration test | Traceable behaviour across normal, degraded and defined fault conditions |
| Mechanical | Load analysis, tolerance assessment, rig test, wear and endurance evaluation | Structural margin, controlled motion and repeatable life performance |
| Electronics | Circuit analysis, interface test, fault injection and hardware verification | Robust control, sensing, power conversion and monitoring |
| Software | Lifecycle planning, traceability, review, analysis and requirements-based testing | Deterministic implementation with evidence appropriate to its allocated role |
| Environmental | Representative temperature, vibration, electromagnetic, sealing and other application tests | Verified operation across the declared equipment environment |
| Reliability and maintainability | Failure data, reliability analysis, inspection planning and service feedback | Supported availability, maintenance and through-life decision-making |
Where applicable, planning may draw on recognised civil aerospace system-development, safety-assessment, environmental, airborne electronic hardware and software assurance practices. The exact standards, editions and compliance objectives will be application-specific.
Information boundary
Clear in public. Detailed where appropriate.
Public overview
Product intent, system layers, design principles, development status and representative evidence methods.
Controlled disclosure
Detailed analyses, internal architecture, load paths, design data, test results and compliance evidence can be discussed under suitable confidentiality arrangements.
Engineering discussion
Connect the function to an evidence route.
Begin with a non-confidential outline of the operating need, interfaces, environment and intended failure response.
Discuss the technology