Abstract: Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Abstract: A sensor simultaneously determines a maximum rub depth and running clearance of a plurality of blade tips in a jet engine. The sensor includes an inductive component (e.g. inductor) and a resistive component comprising resistor portions each indicative of a depth into a layer of abradable material near the blade tips. When the blade tips move in proximity to the inductor, eddy currents in the blades generates a magnetic field that interact with the magnetic field generated by the inductor, which appears as an AC component in the current. When the blade tips abrade the abradable material, the resistor portions are severed and the DC current changes due to a change in resistance at the resistive component. An amplitude of the AC component indicates a running clearance as the blades move in proximity to the inductor. The frequency of the AC component indicates the rotational speed of the blades.

Abstract: A position sensing system for a rotating object may include analog conditioning circuitry, analog to digital converter circuitry, and a controller. The analog conditioning circuitry may identify a half cycle of an analog input signal received from a sensor, which has a variable period and a variable magnitude. The analog to digital converter circuitry may process the input signal during the variable period. The controller may control the analog to digital converter circuitry to compare a magnitude of the identified half cycle of a first variable period of the input signal to a magnitude of the identified half cycle of a second variable period of the input signal. The controller may generate an output signal when a difference between the magnitude of the identified half cycle of the first variable period and the magnitude of the identified half cycle of the second variable period is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Abstract: A sensor simultaneously determines a maximum rub depth and running clearance of a plurality of blade tips in a jet engine. The sensor includes an inductive component (e.g. inductor) and a resistive component comprising resistor portions each indicative of a depth into a layer of abradable material near the blade tips. When the blade tips move in proximity to the inductor, eddy currents in the blades generates a magnetic field that interact with the magnetic field generated by the inductor, which appears as an AC component in the current. When the blade tips abrade the abradable material, the resistor portions are severed and the DC current changes due to a change in resistance at the resistive component. An amplitude of the AC component indicates a running clearance as the blades move in proximity to the inductor. The frequency of the AC component indicates the rotational speed of the blades.

Abstract: A position sensing system for a rotating object may include analog conditioning circuitry, analog to digital converter circuitry, and a controller. The analog conditioning circuitry may identify a half cycle of an analog input signal received from a sensor, which has a variable period and a variable magnitude. The analog to digital converter circuitry may process the input signal during the variable period. The controller may control the analog to digital converter circuitry to compare a magnitude of the identified half cycle of a first variable period of the input signal to a magnitude of the identified half cycle of a second variable period of the input signal. The controller may generate an output signal when a difference between the magnitude of the identified half cycle of the first variable period and the magnitude of the identified half cycle of the second variable period is greater than a predetermined threshold.