Aircraft Engine Data Interface for Lighter Remote EEC Harnesses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft engines face challenges with electronic engine control systems due to the need for remote positioning to protect them from harsh environments, which increases weight and complexity in the engine-to-EEC harness, particularly in larger engines with numerous sensors and actuators.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for transmitting data from aircraft engines using an interface module on the engine to combine sensor and actuator signals into a unified output, which is then sent to a remotely located controller, reducing the number of communication links and harness weight, complexity, and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the EEC is positioned remotely from the engine, then reliability is improved by protecting the EEC from the harsh environment, but the weight and complexity of the engine-to-EEC harness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the control architecture into an on-engine control device that interfaces with sensors and actuators, and a remote controller that performs higher-level control functions. This segmentation allows the EEC to be positioned remotely while maintaining comprehensive control over engine parameters through the control device's ability to process individual sensor and actuator signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the sensors/actuators and the remote controller. It receives individual signals from multiple sensors and actuators, processes them locally, and transmits processed information to the remote controller, thereby reducing the communication burden on the harness while maintaining system functionality.
2Reliability
If the EEC is positioned remotely from the engine, then reliability is improved by protecting the EEC from the harsh environment, but the weight of the engine-to-EEC harness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control architecture is segmented such that the control device remains on the engine to handle individual sensor and actuator interfaces, while the EEC is positioned remotely. This segmentation reduces the number of individual signal connections required in the harness, thereby reducing harness weight while maintaining protective distancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device serves as an intermediary that consolidates multiple individual signals from sensors and actuators into processed output signals for transmission to the remote EEC. This signal consolidation reduces the number of communication links required in the harness, directly reducing harness weight.
3Adaptability or versatility
If individual signals from numerous sensors and actuators are transmitted to a remote controller, then comprehensive control is maintained, but the number of communication links and harness complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device acts as an intermediary that receives individual signals from multiple sensors and actuators, processes them locally to determine engine operation status, and transmits consolidated output signals to the remote controller. This intermediary function maintains comprehensive control capability while reducing the number of communication links required between the engine and remote controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device extracts and processes individual sensor and actuator signals locally before transmission to the remote controller. By taking out the signal processing function from the remote controller and placing it in the on-engine control device, the system maintains comprehensive control while reducing communication link requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for transmitting data from an aircraft engine. A plurality of input signals are received at a control device, during an operation of the aircraft engine, from one or more sensors of the aircraft engine, one or more actuators of the aircraft engine, or any combination of the one or more sensors and the one or more actuators. The plurality of input signals are combined, at the control device, into an output signal indicative of the operation of the aircraft engine. The output signal is transmitted, at the control device, to a controller located remotely from the aircraft engine.