Session: 05-01 Advanced Controls for Propulsion Systems

Paper Number: 82644

82644 - Secure Embedded Distributed Control and Instrumentation Architecture for Aircraft Propulsion Systems: Framework, Process, Methods, Challenges, and Opportunities 

Cyberattacks on flight control systems can be highly critical. Unlike attacks against classical IT systems, attacks on flight control systems may influence physical processes and flight dynamics through digital manipulations. These digital manipulations can be catastrophic for safety critical systems such as propulsion and aircraft systems.   Many technical papers and presentations on improving aerospace turbine engine controllers over the last thirty years have explored the transition from a Federated Control System (FCS) to a Distributed Control System (DCS).  These distributed architectures offer tremendous benefits for optimized control of gas turbine engines used for commercial and military aerospace platforms.  DCS however, suffers from specific vulnerabilities which do not affect classical control systems, and for which appropriate detection and identification techniques need to be developed.   Unfortunately, due to immaturity for the various required technologies, and the risk mitigation that is typical in the aerospace industry, this transition to a distributed architecture has been slow.  In this paper we explore one possible design approach and a framework to develop a more decentralized / distributed and more control system for gas turbine control system.  We propose optimized system control methodologies and review the current state-of-the-art challenges and opportunities for the control system consider new cyber security requirements to harden the engine control system against vectored threat attacks during system operation.

Presenting Author: Mehrdad Pakmehr ControlX, Inc.

Presenting Author Biography: TBD

Authors:

Alireza R. Behbahani, Phd Turbine Engine Division/Aerospace Systems Directorate
John J. Costello Rolls-Royce Corporation
Mehrdad Pakmehr ControlX, Inc.
Richard Skertic Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.