Abstract: An electronically driven lubrication system including an electric lubrication pump; at least one bearing for a gas turbine engine component; an oil cooler fluidly coupled with the electric lubrication pump; lubrication oil fluidly coupled with the electric lubrication pump, at least one bearing and oil cooler; at least one sensor in operative communication with the lubrication oil; a controller comprising a processor in operative communication with the at least one sensor, the electric lubrication pump, the at least one bearing and the oil cooler; and the processor configured to provide processor outputs to the electric lubrication pump responsive to data collected from the at least one sensor, wherein the processor employs an operational configuration for the electronically driven lubrication system.

Abstract: A vehicle, a communication system of the vehicle, and a method of operating the vehicle. The communication system includes a radio frequency waveguide for propagating a radio frequency signal through the vehicle, a first device, a first signal transducer associated with the first device, a second device and a second signal transducer associated with the second device. The first device senses a parameter of the vehicle and generates data. The first signal transducer generates a radio frequency signal indicative of the data into the waveguide. The second signal transducer receives the radio frequency signal from the waveguide and communicates the data to the second device. The second device controls an operation at the vehicle based on the data.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a communication system having a node and includes a method of operating the aircraft with the communication system. The communication system includes a waveguide and the node. The node is located in a high temperature environment. The node includes a high temperature logic circuit, a power supply, wherein the high temperature logic circuit and the power supply are disposed on a first side of the node in a high temperature environment, and a transponder disposed on a second side of the node. A sensor and/or an actuator can be operated via communication with the node via the waveguide.

Abstract: An apparatus with a communication system includes a method of operating the communication system. The communication system includes first device at a first location, a radio frequency transceiver at the first device, a waveguide extending between the first device to a second device at a second location, and a processor. The processor is configured to transmit a first radio frequency signal through the waveguide toward the second location, receive a second radio frequency signal in response to the first radio frequency signal, determine a presence of a fault in the waveguide from the second radio frequency signal, and transmit a third radio frequency signal via the radio frequency transceiver outside of the waveguide when the presence of the fault is determined.

Abstract: A fault diagnostic system includes an RF network that implements a plurality of devices in signal communication with a plurality of nodes to exchange a plurality of signals. A first device includes a radio frequency transceiver, and a first waveguide extends from a first end coupled to the first device to an opposing second end located at a second location. A processor transmits a first radio frequency signal among the plurality of signals through the first waveguide toward the second end, and receives a second radio frequency signal among the plurality of signals, the second radio frequency signal generated in response to the first radio frequency signal. The processor further performs at least one S-parameter analysis based on the first radio frequency and the second radio frequency, and determines a presence of a fault in the radio frequency network based on the at least one S-parameter analysis.

Abstract: A starter assembly for a gas turbine engine may include, among other things, at least one electric motor coupled to a respective spool. A controller may be operable to modulate the at least one electric motor in a plurality of control modes. The control modes may include a torque control mode, an acceleration control mode and/or a speed control mode. A method for starting a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A starter assembly for a gas turbine engine may include, among other things, at least one electric motor coupled to a respective spool. A controller may be operable to modulate the at least one electric motor in a plurality of control modes. The control modes may include a torque control mode, an acceleration control mode and/or a speed control mode. A method for starting a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combustion assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor, a monochromator, and a photodetector assembly. The combustor forms a combustion chamber. The monochromator is disposed outside the combustion chamber. The monochromator is configured to receive an optical input from the combustion chamber and direct an optical output. The optical input has a range of light wavelengths. The optical output has a subset of the range of light wavelengths. The photodetector assembly is disposed outside the combustion chamber. The photodetector assembly is configured to receive the optical output from the monochromator and generate an output signal representative of one or more optical characteristics of the optical output.

Abstract: An electronically driven lubrication system including an electric lubrication pump; at least one bearing for a gas turbine engine component; an oil cooler fluidly coupled with the electric lubrication pump; lubrication oil fluidly coupled with the electric lubrication pump, at least one bearing and oil cooler; at least one sensor in operative communication with the lubrication oil; a controller comprising a processor in operative communication with the at least one sensor, the electric lubrication pump, the at least one bearing and the oil cooler; and the processor configured to provide processor outputs to the electric lubrication pump responsive to data collected from the at least one sensor, wherein the processor employs an operational configuration for the electronically driven lubrication system.

Abstract: An apparatus with a communication system includes a method of operating the communication system. The communication system includes first device at a first location, a radio frequency transceiver at the first device, a waveguide extending between the first device to a second device at a second location, and a processor. The processor is configured to transmit a first radio frequency signal through the waveguide toward the second location, receive a second radio frequency signal in response to the first radio frequency signal, determine a presence of a fault in the waveguide from the second radio frequency signal, and transmit a third radio frequency signal via the radio frequency transceiver outside of the waveguide when the presence of the fault is determined.

Abstract: An engine system includes a gas turbine engine with a first compressor, a first combustor, and first turbine. The engine system also includes a secondary power unit with a second compressor, a second combustor, a second turbine, a third compressor coupled to the second compressor, and an electric motor-generator, where the secondary power unit is coupled to the gas turbine engine and includes a heat exchanger. A controller is operable to determine an operating mode of the engine system, select an input energy source and an output type of the secondary power unit based on the operating mode, control the secondary power unit based on the input energy source and the output type as selected, detect a change in the operating mode of the engine system, and modify the input energy source and/or the output type of the secondary power unit based on the change in the operating mode.

Abstract: A fault diagnostic system includes an RF network that implements a plurality of devices in signal communication with a plurality of nodes to exchange a plurality of signals. A first device includes a radio frequency transceiver, and a first waveguide extends from a first end coupled to the first device to an opposing second end located at a second location. A processor transmits a first radio frequency signal among the plurality of signals through the first waveguide toward the second end, and receives a second radio frequency signal among the plurality of signals, the second radio frequency signal generated in response to the first radio frequency signal. The processor further performs at least one S-parameter analysis based on the first radio frequency and the second radio frequency, and determines a presence of a fault in the radio frequency network based on the at least one S-parameter analysis.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a communication system having a node and includes a method of operating the aircraft with the communication system. The communication system includes a waveguide and the node. The node is located in a high temperature environment. The node includes a high temperature logic circuit, a power supply, wherein the high temperature logic circuit and the power supply are disposed on a first side of the node in a high temperature environment, and a transponder disposed on a second side of the node. A sensor and/or an actuator can be operated via communication with the node via the waveguide.

Abstract: A computer network and method of designing a microwave communication and/or power system for an application. The system includes a processor configured to obtain a design parameter for the application, determine a plurality of architectures for the application based on the design parameter and an attribute of a component or waveguide of the architecture, determine a value metric for each of the plurality of architectures, and determine a reduced set of architectures for the application from the plurality of architecture based on the value metric.

Abstract: A combustion assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor, a monochromator, and a photodetector assembly. The combustor forms a combustion chamber. The monochromator is disposed outside the combustion chamber. The monochromator is configured to receive an optical input from the combustion chamber and direct an optical output. The optical input has a range of light wavelengths. The optical output has a subset of the range of light wavelengths. The photodetector assembly is disposed outside the combustion chamber. The photodetector assembly is configured to receive the optical output from the monochromator and generate an output signal representative of one or more optical characteristics of the optical output.

Abstract: An engine system is provided that includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, a flowpath and a flow regulator. The combustor section includes a combustion chamber. The flowpath extends sequentially through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section. The flow regulator is configured to open the flowpath between the compressor section and the combustion chamber during a first mode of operation. The flow regulator is configured to at least substantially close the flowpath between the compressor section and the combustion chamber during a second mode of operation.

Abstract: An engine system includes a gas turbine engine with a first compressor, a first combustor, and first turbine. The engine system also includes a secondary power unit with a second compressor, a second combustor, a second turbine, a third compressor coupled to the second compressor, and an electric motor-generator, where the secondary power unit is coupled to the gas turbine engine and includes a heat exchanger. A controller is operable to determine an operating mode of the engine system, select an input energy source and an output type of the secondary power unit based on the operating mode, control the secondary power unit based on the input energy source and the output type as selected, detect a change in the operating mode of the engine system, and modify the input energy source and/or the output type of the secondary power unit based on the change in the operating mode.

Abstract: An engine system includes a gas turbine engine with a first compressor, a first combustor, and a first turbine. The engine system also includes a secondary power unit with a second compressor, a second combustor, a second turbine, a third compressor coupled to the second compressor, and an electric motor-generator, where the secondary power unit is coupled to the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine an operating mode of the engine system, select an input energy source and an output type of the secondary power unit based on the operating mode, control the secondary power unit based on the input energy source and the output type as selected, detect a change in the operating mode of the engine system, and modify the input energy source and/or the output type of the secondary power unit based on the change in the operating mode.

Abstract: An engine system is provided that includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, a flowpath and a flow regulator. The combustor section includes a combustion chamber. The flowpath extends sequentially through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section. The flow regulator is configured to open the flowpath between the compressor section and the combustion chamber during a first mode of operation. The flow regulator is configured to at least substantially close the flowpath between the compressor section and the combustion chamber during a second mode of operation.

Abstract: A starter assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fluid-actuated starter coupled to a spool, and a controller operable to cause a reduction in torque output of the starter in response to determining that a first threshold is met. The first threshold relates to an engine operational condition. A method for starting a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.