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Application of wireless sensor networks to aircraft control and health management systems

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Abstract

Use of fly-by-wire technology for aircraft flight controls have resulted in an improved performance and reliability along with achieving reduction in control system weight. Implementation of full authority digital engine control has also resulted in more intelligent, reliable, light-weight aircraft engine control systems. Greater reduction in weight can be achieved by replacing the wire harness with a wireless communication network. The first step towards fly-by-wireless control systems is likely to be the introduction of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). WSNs are already finding a variety of applications for both safety-critical and nonsafety critical distributed systems. Some of the many potential benefits of using WSN for aircraft systems include weight reduction, ease of maintenance and an increased monitoring capability. This paper discusses the application of WSN for several aircraft systems such as distributed aircraft engine control, aircraft flight control, aircraft engine and structural health monitoring systems. A brief description of each system is presented along with a discussion on the technological challenges. Future research directions for application of WSN in aircraft systems are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA

    Rama K. Yedavalli & Rohit K. Belapurkar

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  1. Rama K. Yedavalli
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  2. Rohit K. Belapurkar
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Correspondence to Rama K. Yedavalli.

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Rama K. YEDAVALLI received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, India, and Ph.D. degree from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics of Purdue University in 1974, 1976 and 1981, respectively. He is currently a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. He is a fellow of IEEE and a fellow of ASME and an associate fellow of AIAA. He is the recipient of the O. Hugh Schuck Best Paper Award by the American Automatic Control Council in 2001. Dr. Yedavalli’s research and teaching interests include robustness and sensitivity issues in linear uncertain dynamical systems, estimation and fault diagnostics of propulsion systems, control of smart structural systems, networked control systems, dynamics and control of flexible structures, aircraft, spacecraft, automotive, robotic, energy, and other mechanical control systems.

Rohit K. BELAPURKAR joined the Ohio State University, U.S.A. in 2006 and is currently pursuing Ph.D. degree in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He obtained his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Pune, India, in 2006 and M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Ohio State University, in 2008. His research interests include distributed aircraft engine control, networked control systems, time delay systems, decentralized control systems, sensor networks, nonlinear control theory, and robust control of safety-critical distributed systems.

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Yedavalli, R.K., Belapurkar, R.K. Application of wireless sensor networks to aircraft control and health management systems. J. Control Theory Appl. 9, 28–33 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11768-011-0242-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11768-011-0242-9

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