Next-Generation Fuel Controller

Abstract:
BAI designed an Advanced Fuel Controller for the Next Generation Helicopter that improves engine load anticipation accuracy with reduction in design/development time and complexity.

Problem:
In order to minimize the amount of rotor speed droop that Next Generation Helicopters encounter during aggressive maneuvers, it is necessary to anticipate the required engine load. Current load anticipator design procedures require up to six weeks of development time and must be repeated each time a design change is made to the helicopter.

Solution:
The design concept developed by BAI consists of three steps (1) either from a simulation or flight tests, generate a database of maneuvers that covers the flight regime needing load anticipation, (2) use this database to create a polynomial neural network that models the aerodynamic blade torque using the redundantly measured aircraft states, and (3) validate this model with a different set of evaluation maneuvers that are within the input/output space of the training database. This technique provides improvements in the anticipation accuracy with a considerable reduction in complexity and ultimately in the design cycle time.