Diagnostic and Health Monitoring Techniques for Engine Nozzle Actuation Hardware

The proposed effort emphasizes a systematic process for adding diagnostic and prognostic coverage for monitoring the health of the JSF short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) engine exhaust nozzle hardware with the goal of improving reliability and aircraftavailability. The process involves the identification of the most significant failures, trading off different prognostic techniques to achieve a cost-effective balance between the cost versus benefit gained, and then developing new sensors and tests andevaluating them in simulation, test stand, and actual flight conditions. The end product of this effort is not just a collection of new tests for early detection of failures in a few degraded components; it is a complete diagnostic and prognostic solutionutilizing the sensors and capabilities that already exist to the greatest extent, while identifying new capabilities that can easily be embedded or provided in ground support equipment, to achieve maximum mission reliability within a reasonable cost. Onthis effort, Qualtech Systems, Inc. will collaborate with HR Textron for design and test data for actuators, for simulation and test-stand facilities, and for commercialization efforts in Phase III. Consultation and cooperation with Pratt & Whitney arealso anticipated, particularly in Phases II and III.