ABSTRACT
Fly-by-wire (FBW) systems replace mechanical control components with electrical signals generated by position sensors, processed by a computer and then transmitted through electrical cables to the control actuators. FBW systems can be designed for fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft. Similar technology can also be employed to control the engines. A development of this technology is to replace the electrical cables with optical fibre, referred to as fly-by-light (FBL). FBW/FBL can be applied to both aeroplanes and rotorcraft.
