Communication Architecture for Distributed Control of Turbine Engines

ABSTRACT: The use of a distributed electronics interface in air vehicles offers many highly sought benefits but remains conceptual due to the fact that rugged electronic components capable of reliable operation in high temperature 225C environments are currently not readily available. In Phase II Orbital Research will develop a distributed architecture for turbine engine controls based on affordable high temperature electronics (HTE). This will be accomplished by building on the work done in Phase I where we analyzed I/O needs of two (2) FADECs and correlated those needs with several protocol standards. The protocol standard chosen by industry for distributed control of FADEC I/O interfaces will require high temperature components for the physical layer, which will be developed and prototyped by Orbital Research during Phase II. Orbital will apply its significant experience in designing and developing HTE to producing HTE communications ASICs, and integrating them into a Multi-Chip Module, and subsequently testing the system. All aspects of development will be conducted in close working relationships with the major FADEC and turbine engine manufacturers to assure practicality of the final configuration. BENEFIT: Military Market. The technology developed in Phases II (and III) of this project will provide the many benefits of distributed control in turbine engines and eliminate the current major constraints associated with the thermal environments surrounding engine systems. This technology promises many applications for the military market, including advanced engine and flight controls, unmanned aerial vehicles, directed energy systems, military control units, actuators, and more-electric systems. Civilian Market. Projected applications for the developed temperature-tolerant control technology in the civilian sector are equally attractive and include commercial aircraft, automotive, ground-based power generation, oil industry, and harsh industrial processing applications.