Innovating next-generation landing gear technologies
The Landing Gear Innovation Lab (LGIL) is a newly constructed ~6,500 ft² lab located at 75 Carl Hall Road next to Centennial College's Downsview Campus, investigating next-generation landing gear technologies. Supported by $2M in public funding, the LGIL was developed in collaboration with key industry partner Safran Landing Systems – a world-renowned landing gear manufacturer. This high-ceiling lab equipped with an overhead crane system houses the Bombardier Challenger 300 (CL300) and CRJ-200 test rigs, able to be custom-configured to test landing gear actuation systems. These test rigs are powered by an aerospace grade Hydraulic Power Unit. The lab also contains a workroom and computer lab with full design and prototyping capabilities provided through over a dozen industry-standard design and modelling software. The Landing Gear Innovation Lab also contains an environmental chamber system with aerospace-specific temperature and humidity ranges. Beside the chamber are a linear actuator test rig, provision for a rotary actuator test rig as well as a drop test tower currently in development.
Since the LGIL's opening in 2020, we have completed 22 projects with 7 industry partners, engaging 92 students and 16 faculty members.
A tour of our state-of-the-art facilities
Takes a tour of the facilities and equipment at our Downsview Campus - the Bombardier Centre for Aviation and Aerospace - and its adjacent Landing Gear Innovation Lab!
The 6,500 ft² of classroom and research space includes:
- Landing Gear Test Rigs
- Environmental Chamber
- Linear Actuator Test Rig
- Rotary Actuator Test Rig (Manufacturing Phase)
- Drop Test Tower
- Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU)
- Data Acquisition Center
- Overhead Crane
- Open Concept Classroom
- Computer Lab & Workroom – Prototyping and Analysis Room
(Click on any of the above headings to navigate there!)
Check out below for details on our facilities and equipment!
LANDING GEAR TEST RIGS
Functional (extend/retract only) CRJ 200 and CL300 aircraft test rig setup integrated with data acquisition system for research and academic purposes. Test rigs include the main and nose landing gear mechanisms. The CL300 test rig includes the wheels, brakes and steering mechanism (rack and pinion). The newly designed landing gear parts can be tested through defined cycles and validated. Both test rigs are powered by a hydraulic power unit and work with standard aerospace-grade Skydrol fluid.
Industries: Aerospace, Manufacturing, Defence, Electronic/Sensors, Hydraulic
Use of equipment:
- Design verification & validation
- Manufacturing testing
- Prototype testing
- QA/QC reliability
- Failure test
- Life testing
- Sealing
ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER
4’x4’x4’ environmental chamber with remote condition capability from -70°C to +190°C (-94°F to +375°F) and humidity 0% to 98% relative humidity as limited by a +85°C (+185°F) maximum dry bulb and a +7°C (+45°F) minimum dewpoint. Monitor and/or control the chamber remotely from any device using an internet connection. Data logging and programming up to 99 steps and 1000 cycles. The environmental chamber can condition an external custom built enclosure with connecting hoses for the larger and heavier prototypes.
Industries: Aerospace, Automotive, Manufacturing, Transportation, Energy/Solar, Gas & Oil, Defence, Pharmaceutical, Electronic/Computer Hardware, Telecommunication, Medical
Use of Equipment:
- Design verification & validation
- Manufacturing testing
- Prototype testing
- Accelerated stress test
- QA/QC reliability
- Failure test
- Life testing
LINEAR ACTUATOR TEST RIG
Linear actuator test rig with an internal 75” x 25” x 25” chamber to test all types of linear electric and hydraulic actuators with a temperature range between -55°C ~ +85°C. The rig is integrated with a data acquisition system to record test data (force and stroke/torque and angle).
Specifications:
- Max Stroke: 24”
- Max Force (in-lb): 25000
- Max Dimension: 75” x 25” x 25”
Industries: Aerospace, Manufacturing, Defence, Electronic/Sensors, Hydraulic, Automotive
Use of Equipment:
- Design verification & validation
- Manufacturing testing
- Prototype testing
- QA/QC reliability
- Failure test
- Life testing
- Sealing
ROTARY ACTUATOR TEST RIG
Manufacturing Phase - To be delivered by August 2023
Rotary actuator test rig designed with an internal 45” x 30” x 30” chamber to test all types of rotary electric and hydraulic actuators with a temperature range between -55°C ~ +85°C. The rig is integrated with a data acquisition system to record test data (torque and angle). The test rig design is completed by the selected vendor and it’s currently being manufactured in their facility.
Max Torque: 25000 in-lb
Industries: Aerospace, Manufacturing, Defence, Electronic/Sensors, Hydraulic, Automotive
Use of Equipment:
- Design verification & validation
- Manufacturing testing
- Prototype testing
- QA/QC reliability
- Failure test
- Life testing
- Sealing
DROP TEST TOWER
Design Phase - To be delivered by August 2023
A 5000 lb drop test tower equipped with a 50K lbs reaction force measurement base platform and wheel spinning mechanism allows testing the functionality of the gears for small-scaled aircraft and eVTOLs. The drop test tower is in the design phase with the selected vendor and will be delivered by August 2023.
Industries: Aerospace, Manufacturing, Defence, Electronic/Sensors, Hydraulic, Automotive
Use of Equipment:
- Design verification & validation
- Manufacturing testing
- Prototype testing
- QA/QC reliability
- Failure test
- Life testing
- Impact testing
HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT (HPU)
The HPU system provides 3000 PSI pressurized hydraulic fluid to control the landing gear actuators on CRJ-200 Main Landing Gear and Nose Landing Gear as well as CL300. The HPU is specifically built to withstand a highly corrosive fluid (Skydrol) used in the aerospace industry, and controlled by the existing data acquisition systems. The HPU is equipped with connections to test other prototypes/actuators/steering mechanisms on test rigs.
Industries: Aerospace, Manufacturing, Defence, Electronic/Sensors, Hydraulic
Use of equipment:
- Design verification & validation
- Manufacturing testing
- Prototype testing
- QA/QC reliability
- Failure test
- Life testing
- Sealing
DATA ACQUISITION CENTER
Dedicated data acquisition centres for CRJ200 and CL300 test rigs to control and collect data are the imc C-SERIES Modular Units with the following features:
- 16 Analog Input Channels
- 4 Analog Output Channels
- 4 Counter Input Channels
- 16 Digital I/O Channels
The data acquisition centre is equipped with extra I/Os that allow to connection extra sensors to collect data from other prototypes in different applications.
Industries: Aerospace, Manufacturing, Defence, Electronic/Sensors, Hydraulic, Automatic
Use of Equipment:
- Design verification & validation
- Manufacturing testing
- Prototype testing
- QA/QC reliability
- Failure test
- Life testing
COMPUTER LAB & WORKROOM - PROTOTYPING AND ANALYSIS ROOM
Four-workstation computer room with a suite of state-of-the-art design softwares along with electronic prototyping workbench. The prototyping bench is equipped with highly precision multimeter, signal generator, oscilloscope and other required electronic devices.