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 environments are not now readily available. In Phase I Orbital Research will develop a common distributed control architecture for turbine engine controls based on affordable high temperature electronics (HTE). This will be accomplished by building a communication model derived from the sensors and actuators used by at least two different FADECs to make decisions regarding turbine engine control. Orbital Research will analyze the I/O needs of the FADECs and correlate those needs with several protocol standards. The protocol standard chosen by industry for distributed control of FADEC I/O interfaces will require a high temperature component for the physical layer, and this component will be developed by Orbital Research during Phase II. Orbital will apply its significant experience in designing and developing HTE to producing an HTE communications ASIC, integrating it 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 I and II (and III) of this project will provide the many benefits of distributed control in turbine engines and eliminate the current major constraint associated with the thermal environment on the engine system. 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.