Patent ID: 8118373

Claim:
A method for controlling electric carbon brakes of an aircraft when the aircraft is taxiing, the aircraft having left and right landing gear with a plurality of wheels, and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first portion of a plurality of electric brake actuators of each wheel brake with a first range of low brake clamping force responsive to low brake clamping force commands; providing a second portion of the plurality of electric brake actuators of each brake with a second range of high brake clamping force responsive to high brake clamping force commands, said second range of high brake clamping force being greater than said first range of low brake clamping force; monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft; applying a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force with said first portion of a plurality of electric brake actuators for the plurality of wheel brakes in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes; determining a left side average wheel speed of the wheels of the left landing gear; determining a right side average wheel speed of the wheels of the right landing gear independently of the left side average wheel speed; comparing said left side average wheel speed with a first predetermined wheel speed threshold; comparing said right side average wheel speed with said first predetermined wheel speed threshold; discontinuing applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force of said first portion of a plurality of electric brake actuators when either of said left side average wheel speed and right side average wheel speed is less than said first predetermined wheel speed threshold; applying said second range of high brake clamping force only when the commanded braking force is in the second high range of brake clamping force; and discontinuing applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force of said first portion of a plurality of electric brake actuators when the commanded braking force is less than the second high range of brake clamping force.