US Patent 7556224 Distributed flight control surface actuation system

An aircraft flight control surface actuation system includes a plurality of flap actuators, and a plurality of slat actuators. The actuators receive actuator position commands from an actuator control unit and, in response, move flaps and slats between stowed and deployed positions. The flight control surface actuator control unit includes a plurality of independent actuator control channels. One or more of the independent actuator control channels is coupled to both a flap actuator and a slat actuator, and is configured to selectively supply the actuator position commands thereto.