Patent ID: 8504221

Claim:
A method for controlling a control surface of a vehicle, the control surface connected to an actuator and a brake, and wherein the actuator and brake are in communication with a vehicle management system computer, the method comprising: identifying a load on the control surface, wherein an identified load is formed; communicating the identified load to a unit in communication with the vehicle management system computer; generating a signal from the unit, wherein the unit generates the signal only when the identified load exceeds a force needed to move the actuator; identifying a direction of movement of the control surface from the identified load to form an identified movement; engaging the brake associated with the control surface if the vehicle management system computer receives the signal and the identified movement is away from a desired position for the control surface; and disengaging the brake associated with the control surface if the vehicle management system computer receives the signal and the identified movement is towards a desired position for the control surface.