Integrated Engine and Flight Control for Faster Aircraft Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft control systems suffer from inefficient feedback between independent control subsystems, leading to suboptimal operation and reduced reliability and safety due to separate processors and memory for engine and flight control architectures.
Innovation Solution
An integrated aircraft control system with a processor subsystem comprising multiple interconnected processors and memory units that directly link engine and flight control subsystems, enabling shared algorithms and enhanced coordination between engine and flight control systems, along with redundant channels and a prognostic health monitor for component health monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate independent control subsystems are used for engine and flight control, then each subsystem can have dedicated processors and memory, but feedback between subsystems becomes inefficient and optimization of aircraft operation is inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate engine control and flight control subsystems into a unified control architecture where a single processor executes integrated algorithms that coordinate both engine and flight control functions. This integration eliminates the inefficient feedback loop between independent subsystems while maintaining dedicated processing capabilities through software partitioning and priority-based task scheduling.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate processors and memory are used for engine and flight control, then each control architecture can execute its own algorithms independently, but overall control efficiency and coordination are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal processor that can execute multiple types of control algorithms for both engine and flight control functions. The processor is designed with the capability to run specialized engine control algorithms and flight control algorithms within a unified software architecture, enabling coordinated optimization of both subsystems while maintaining the functional independence needed for specialized control strategies.
3Ease of operation
If feedback between independent control subsystems is implemented, then both engine and flight control can operate autonomously, but the feedback loop introduces delays and inhibits optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines autonomous engine control and flight control operations into a single integrated control loop that executes on one processor. This merging eliminates the inter-subsystem feedback delay by allowing the processor to directly coordinate both control functions through shared memory and unified task scheduling, while each control function maintains its autonomous decision-making capability through dedicated software modules.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft control system (100) may include an engine control subsystem (110), a flight control subsystem (120), a processor, and a tangible, non-transitory memory. The tangible, non-transitory memory may be configured to communicate with the processor, and the tangible, non-transitory memory may have instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the aircraft control system (100) to perform various operations. The various operations may include controlling, by the processor, the engine control subsystem (110) and controlling, by the processor, the flight control subsystem (120). That is, a single processor (or a single set of processors) may control both the engine control subsystem (110) and the flight control subsystem (120).