Distributed control architecture for aircraft fluid management

Smartfuel is a research project from a European Commission Framework Programme. The project aims to move away from a centralized control architecture for aircraft fuel management. The controlling functionality (originally located in a central computer) in a Distributed Aircraft Fuel Management System (DAFMS) is partially deployed in networked Smart Fuel Components (SFCs). SFCs are mechatronic fuel components that can make their decisions by themselves based on the DAFMS states and the sequence of actions of the DAFMS operation. Smartfuel considers three DAFMS operation modes: pressure refueling, engine supply, and fuel transfer. This paper discusses the investigation work done toward developing the above DAFMS. The discussion includes computer models, laboratory prototypes, and an aircraft rig as well as a real-scale helicopter used to evaluate the DAFMS approach. Potential use of the approach proposed for spacecraft and concluding remarks are also discussed.