Engine Communication Gateway With Integral Antennas for Wireless Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing and updating data, as well as interfacing with offboard systems, for gas turbine engines deployed in the field is challenging due to rapid advancements in computer and communication technologies, requiring cumbersome cable connections and slow processes.
Innovation Solution
A communication adapter with integrated antennas and processing circuitry that establishes wireless communication with the engine control, enabling secure data transfer, software updates, and remote troubleshooting, while being mountable on the gas turbine engine and interfacing with the aircraft bus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cable connections are used to access engine control data, then communication reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless communication system. The communication adapter uses wireless transceivers to transmit data between the engine control and offboard systems, eliminating the need for physical cable connections while maintaining communication reliability through error correction protocols and authentication mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication adapter serves as an intermediary device between the engine control and offboard systems. It provides wireless communication capabilities while implementing security authentication and data validation, thereby maintaining reliable communication without requiring direct cable connections between systems.
2Reliability
If cable connections are used for data access, then security is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical cable-based data transfer with wireless communication, enabling faster data transmission speeds for software updates and configuration changes while implementing multiple layers of security including authentication, encryption, and data validation to maintain or enhance security posture.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication adapter performs preliminary authentication and validation of offboard systems before allowing data access or software updates. This pre-authorization process ensures security is maintained while enabling rapid authenticated communication once security clearance is established.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external communication interfaces are added to access engine data, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication functions (wireless transceivers, authentication, data validation, and interface management) into a single integrated communication adapter device. This consolidation provides adaptability to various offboard systems while managing complexity through unified design rather than multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication adapter is designed with universal multi-functionality, supporting multiple wireless communication protocols and interfaces within a single device. This enables the adapter to work with various offboard systems and applications while maintaining a single point of complexity management rather than requiring separate specialized devices for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes an engine control configured to monitor and control operation of the gas turbine engine in real-time and a communication adapter that includes a housing and a plurality of antennas in the housing. The communication adapter is configured to establish communication with the engine control and wireless communication with an offboard system external to the aircraft through at least one of the antennas of the communication adapter. The housing includes a metal chassis with a non-conductive substrate between the metal chassis and the antennas. The antennas are partitioned into two or more portions. A communication interface of the communication adapter is configured to establish wireless communication through the antennas using two or more different wireless communication protocols.