Patent ID: 7424350

Claim:
A portion of a vehicle control system, comprising: at least one external fluid flow body having a forward portion with a first flow surface, a second flow surface facing opposite the first flow surface, and a trailing edge at a juncture of the first flow surface and the second flow surface, the trailing edge having a span extending from a first trailing edge tip to a second trailing edge tip; a plurality of control surfaces, each having at least a portion aft of the trailing edge of the external fluid flow body, the control surfaces being movable relative to the at least one external fluid flow body to control forces and moments on the external fluid flow body by interacting with an adjacent flow field; and a plurality of electro hydraulic actuator mechanisms, each having an approximately identical control capability, wherein the control capability includes approximately identical maximum actuation rate and approximately identical maximum actuation force, at least one actuator mechanism being coupled to each of the control surfaces to actively position the control surfaces in response to command signals, wherein the plurality of actuator mechanisms are the only actuator mechanisms coupled to the control surfaces to actively move the control surfaces in response to the command signals.