Advanced Model/Rule Based Software for Affordable Engine Control

The firm proposes to develop an advanced software capability for the control and monitoring of turbine engines. This effort is aimed at the near-term deployment of ensuing technologies on a low-cost helicopter engine. The effort will be embedded in the T800 engine commercialization project led by the Allison Engine Company. The reasons for the high cost of engine controls are two fold: first, redundant components increase costs; and second, engine-specific implementation and designs increase non-recurrent costs. Hence, to lower the cost of control systems, we need to reduce the number of redundant components and make the control adaptable to a broader range of engine applications. The approach taken to reduce cost while maintaining operability is to develop the control systems based on software (or analytical) redundancy. Software redundancy is a model-based control/monitoring paradigm, which is consisted of an embedded, real-time, physical model of the engine and a smart, flexible, robust decision mechanism. The goals of the model-based control are to provide functional operations in case that the primary digital control channel fails (or is switched off), and to perform fault identification, fault accommodation, and life usage manegement for the engine. Anticipated Military Benefits: The benefits will be to reduce control system weight and cost, and to increase engine operability and performance. The technology can be applied to engines, airplanes, unmanned vehicles (UAVs), and ground transportation systems. Military applications are T800 engine (the Comanche helicopter), T700 engine (Black Hawk helicopter), and other turbine engines used by a wide range of military vehicles. Commercial applications are Allison 250, A2100, T800, and other commercial turbine engines.