A system for determining a side of an electrical circuit exposed to a high temperature includes a printed circuit board having at least two outer edges and first and second board stiffeners of a first material disposed along the outer edges. The system also includes a control unit and a plurality of traces formed of a material that is different than the first material and has a second Seebeck coefficient. The control unit determines whether the first edge or second edge is closer to the high temperature based on a voltage differential between a trace connecting it to the first end of the first board stiffener and a trace connecting to the first end of the second board stiffener.

A system can include a gas turbine and a processing system. The gas turbine can include a compressor coupled to a turbine through a shaft. The processing system can be configured to: automatically transition an operating condition of the system through a plurality of operating states; determine an efficiency of the system at each of a plurality of the operating states; for each of the plurality of operating states: select a future operating state of the system based on the determined efficiency of the current operating state.

An embodiment of an engine assembly includes a combustion turbine engine having at least a first compressor spool, a first turbine spool, a first shaft connecting the first compressor spool and the first turbine spool, and a combustor disposed in a working gas flow path between the first compressor spool and the first turbine spool. A first controller is programmed with a surge map, and configured to operate the combustion turbine engine in a range extending between a first suppressed idle mode, a second base idle mode, and a maximum takeoff power rating mode. An idle speed suppressor includes at least one idle assist motor connected to the first shaft of the combustion turbine engine. A second controller is configured to manage operation of the idle speed suppressor relative to the combustion turbine engine during times of minimum power demand, such that operating the idle speed suppressor increases a compressor speed in the first suppressed idle mode relative to a compressor speed in the second base idle mode.

Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Control systems and methods for controlling an engine. The control system includes a computation module and an input/output (I/O) module attached to the engine. The computation module is located in an area of the engine, or off-engine, that provides a more benign environment than the environment that the I/O module is subject to during operation of the engine. The I/O module includes a first processor and a first network interface device. The computation module includes a second processor with higher processing power than the first processor, and a second network interface device. The control system also includes a sensor configured to provide sensor readings to the first processor. The first processor transmits data based on the sensor readings to the second processor. The control system also includes an actuator operably coupled to the I/O module and that is controlled by the first processor based on commands from the second processor.

Disclosed are systems and methods for active inlet turbine control. The systems and methods may include receiving a plurality of signals, determining a temperature gradient across an inlet of a gas turbine engine, and transmitting an activation signal to a modulating valve. Each of the plurality of signals may correspond to a temperature measured by one of a plurality of sensors located proximate the inlet of the gas turbine engine. The temperature gradient across the inlet of the gas turbine engine may be determined based on the plurality of signals. The activation signal may be operative to open or close the modulating valve based on the temperature gradient.

A system of a machine includes a network of a plurality of sensing/control/identification devices distributed throughout the machine. Each of the sensing/control/identification devices is associated with at least one sub-system component of the machine and operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals. Shielding surrounds at least one of the sensing/control/identification devices to contain the electromagnetic signals proximate to the at least one sub-system component. A communication path is integrally formed in a component of the machine to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals through the component. The communication path comprises a material transparent to the electromagnetic signals. The system also includes a remote processing unit operable to communicate with the network of the sensing/control/identification devices through the electromagnetic signals.

An example method includes: determining a throttle command for a servomotor configured to control a position of a throttle lever, where the position of the throttle lever indicates a commanded thrust for the first engine of the aircraft; determining a trim command for the first engine to equalize the thrust of the first engine with the respective thrust of the second engine; determining that a magnitude of the throttle command is less than a magnitude of a threshold throttle command indicative of a dead zone of the servomotor, where the servomotor is irresponsive to a given throttle command within the dead zone; modifying the trim command based on the throttle command to generate a modified trim command that compensates for irresponsiveness of the servomotor to the throttle command; and changing the thrust generated by the first engine based on the modified trim command.