Method for integrating engine control and flight control system

• US 9,145,202 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mathews, Harry Kirk Jr., Adibhatla, Sridhar, Bult, Jeffrey Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERNS, MICHAEL ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US14/159,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20140136030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/99
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/06 actuated automatically
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A method of operating an aircraft system includes receiving flight information and trajectory intent information other than current values by an engine control system associated with an engine of the aircraft system from a flight control system associated with the aircraft system; and operating an engine associated with the engine control system using the received non-current information. An aircraft includes an engine positioned on the aircraft; a full authority digital engine controller (FADEC) communicatively coupled to the engine; and a flight control system positioned on the aircraft and communicatively coupled to the FADEC, the flight control system configured to transmit other than current values of flight information and trajectory intent information to the FADEC and to receive other than current values of at least one of engine health and parameters used to estimate engine health from at least one of the FADEC and a separate flight control center positioned offboard the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method of operating an aircraft system, the method comprising;

receiving flight information and trajectory intent information other than current values by an engine control system associated with an engine of the aircraft system from a flight control system associated with the aircraft system;

operating an engine associated with the engine control system using the received non-current information;

receiving engine performance and health information other than current values by the flight control system from the engine control system; and

operating the aircraft associated with the flight control system using the received non-current information.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein receiving engine performance and health information comprises receiving at least one of an estimate of engine health and parameters used to estimate engine health.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein receiving engine performance and health information comprises receiving an estimate of engine thrust capability.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the engine control system is a full authority digital engine control (FADEC).

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein receiving flight information and trajectory intent information comprises receiving at least one of planned future flight conditions of the aircraft and predicted future flight conditions of the aircraft.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein receiving at least one of planned future flight conditions of the aircraft and predicted future flight conditions of the aircraft comprises receiving an indication of a future change in altitude of the flight path.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein receiving at least one of planned future flight conditions of the aircraft and predicted future flight conditions of the aircraft comprises receiving weather conditions.

8. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein receiving engine performance and health information comprises receiving an estimate of engine thrust capability.

9. An aircraft comprising:

an engine positioned on the aircraft;

a full authority digital engine controller (FADEC) communicatively coupled to the engine; and

a flight control system positioned on the aircraft and communicatively coupled to the FADEC, the flight control system configured to transmit other than current values of flight information and trajectory intent information to the FADEC and to receive other than current values of at least one of engine health and parameters used to estimate engine health from at least one of the FADEC and a separate flight control center positioned offboard the aircraft.

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the flight information and trajectory intent information includes an indication of a future change in altitude of the flight path.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the FADEC modifies the operation of the engine using the indication of a future change in altitude of the flight path.