Jet Engine Control Using Ethernet with a BRAIN (Postprint)

Distributed control architectures are becoming increasingly prevalent as smart actuation and sensing technology becomes more cost-effective and realizable. However, achieving a distributed architecture that supports the increasing computational demands of engine control and prognostics strategies whilst surviving in the harsh on-engine environment remains to be a significant challenge. In this paper we present a Hybrid Ethernet based architecture that combines gigabit per second capacity for computational agreement and replication, with low complexity fault-tolerant Ethernet based braided ring segments for robust on-engine message distribution. To establish a rationale for the architecture the communications requirements for distributed control are briefly summarized and a discussion of current and emerging communications technologies is also presented. The BRAIN Braided Ring Availability Integrity Network dependability augmentation strategies are then presented to illustrate how the dependability issues of current communications may be mitigated.