Hybrid Duplex-Triplex Aircraft Control for In-Range Fault Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft engine control systems, such as FADEC, face challenges in accommodating diverse engine/airframe combinations due to varying sensor types and flight characteristics, leading to increased complexity, cost, size, and weight, while duplex systems are susceptible to in-range faults.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid duplex-triplex control architecture is introduced, utilizing a triplex sensor with a remote interface device to provide three inputs to two processing channels, maintaining duplex output functionality and reducing complexity by avoiding additional processors and channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a triplex control system is implemented to improve fault detection capability, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the triplex sensor's three output signals into a single processing channel by combining two signals at the remote interface device and transmitting the combined signal to the processing channel. This allows the system to benefit from triplex sensor redundancy while maintaining duplex processing architecture, thereby improving fault detection without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing channel is designed to handle multiple input configurations (duplex or triplex) through a universal interface that can accept combined signals from the remote interface device. This multi-functionality allows the same processing channel to operate effectively whether receiving two direct sensor signals or one combined signal representing three sensors, reducing the need for separate processing paths.
2Reliability
If additional processors and channels are added to accommodate triplex sensor inputs, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The remote interface device serves as an intermediary between the triplex sensor and the processing channel. It receives three sensor signals, combines two of them according to configuration, and transmits the combined signal to the processing channel. This intermediary approach enables triplex sensor functionality without requiring additional processing channels or processors, as the combination logic is handled at the interface level rather than requiring separate processing paths.
3Device complexity
If a duplex control system is used to reduce system complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to in-range faults
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sensor redundancy function from the processing function. The triplex sensor provides segmented redundant measurements, while the remote interface device segments the signal combination task from the main processing channel. This segmentation allows the processing channel to operate with simplified duplex logic while still benefiting from triplex-level fault detection through the combined signal input.
Data Source
AI summary
Aircraft control architectures include a triplex sensor configured to output three signals. First and second channels are configured to receive respective signals of the three output signals, with each channel having a respective processor and are configured to output respective control signals. A remote interface device is configured to receive a third signal of the three output signals and an effector is configured to receive the first and second control signals and perform an action in response to the control signals. An output from the remote interface device is transmitted to the first and second channels and an output from each channel is received at the other channel. The control signals are based on the received signals, the received outputs from the remote interface device, and the received output from the other channel.