EMALS & AAG
EMALS & AAG Technology for Aircraft Launch & Recovery
Electro Standards Laboratories has expertise with Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System technology also referred to as EMALS technology and Advanced Arresting Gear technology or AAG.
The EMALS and AAG technology are used on Ford Class aircraft carriers such as CVN78, CVN79 through CVN81. The USS Doris Miller (CVN-81) will be the fourth Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier scheduled to be built beginning in 2026.
EMALS technology is the technology that replaced the older steam catapult systems used on aircraft carriers of the past. This newer catapult technology provides more flexibility and precision for the Ford-Class of carriers.
This Electromagnetic catapult technology can support a wide variety of aircraft weight with the capability to launch from various platforms using manned or unmanned aircraft. The EMALS technology has the versatility to launch heavy jet fighters to small unmanned drones.
To view a video of the Navy test of the EMALS aircraft launch system on YouTube <click here>
Electro Standards' team of scientists and engineers have expertise in the development of sensorless and sensor minimized linear motor controllers for aircraft launch from aircraft carriers. This technology can be used to support other applications as well.
Electro Standards Laboratories' team can also provide cutting-edge strategies designed for optimal controls for arresting incoming aircraft. This Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) technology offers a wide range of sizes and kinetic energy for landings of state-of-the-art aircraft carriers.
The algorithms presented are in real-time and are generally applicable to electromagnetic-based arrestment systems whether fixed or on a mobile platform. This type of technology can be applicable to manned or unmanned aircraft, drones or other vessels.
Dr. Raymond Sepe submitted experimental work on Nonlinear Aircraft Arresting System at EAPPC-EML 2024 Conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The work was entitled "Experimental Demonstration of Model Based Control of a Nonlinear Aircraft Arresting System" and below is the abstract and a link to the full article on IEEE Xplore website to be reviewed fully by IEEE members at https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10747880
Abstract:
This paper presents a model-based robust controller and a subscale experimental demonstration for a subscale motor driven aircraft carrier arresting system. Sensors in the system are limited with no sensors on the aircraft being controlled. The uncertainty in the aircraft’s orientation and position, the long mechanical linkages, along with the nonlinear dynamics and limited sensors, result in control design challenges. The control method is based on an adaptive linear quadratic Gaussian/loop transfer recovery control algorithm that regulates >10 MJ of pulsed energy with MW power transients. The design method generates a controller with good tracking performance for the aircraft position and velocity and successfully arrests the aircraft within cable tension bounds.
Published in: 2024 10th Euro-Asian Pulsed Power Conference, 25th International Conference on High-Power Particle Beams and 20th International Symposium on Electromagnetic Launch Technology (EAPPC/BEAMS/EML)
The company has received "Best of Session Award" for their work on this type of technology. The award was presented to the company at the 43rd Digital Avionics Systems Conference in San Diego, CA. The Abstract can be found below for the IEEE paper entitled "Trajectory and Binning Strategy with LQG/LTR Controller for Aircraft Arresting Gear System". IEEE members can access the entire paper at https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10749395.
Abstract:
This work introduces a novel Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO) digital controller for an aircraft arresting system. Unlike traditional Single Input Single Output (SISO) controls, this MIMO controller addresses the challenges of limited sensor data and the nonlinear dynamics of arrestment. Using an adaptive linear quadratic Gaussian/loop transfer recovery (LQG/LTR) control algorithm, the system estimates aircraft speed and effective skew angle to generate optimal motor reference trajectories. A key innovation is the use of an effective angle that combines aircraft offset, skew, and hook slip into a single metric. This, along with binning strategies, ensures robust control despite uncertainties. The approach enhances stability and performance during the critical phases of aircraft arrestment, meeting tight specifications for cable tension, path divergence, and stopping distance. Results demonstrate the controller's effectiveness, particularly in handling high-mass, high-speed aircraft. This research represents a significant advancement in aircraft arresting control systems, offering a robust solution for modern aircraft carriers.
Published in: 2024 AIAA DATC/IEEE 43rd Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC)
More about this prestigious award can be found here: https://www.electrostandards.com/electro-standards-laboratories-receives-best-of-session-award-for-work-presented-at-the-43rd-digital-avionics-systems-conference-in-san-diego-ca/
ESL's Engineering Services Group can work as part of your team!
To find out more about our R&D Contract Engineering Services, give us a call at 401-943-1164 or email: eslab@electrostandards.com
