GB1258392A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,258,392. Automatic optimizing control. ROLLS ROYCE Ltd. Dec. 23, 1968 [Dec. 29, 1967], No. 59029/69. Heading G3R. In a system for controlling a vehicle having two propulsion engines, one on each side of an axis of symmetry of the vehicle, closed-loop control systems maintain a predetermined speed and direction of travel and the fuel flows to the propulsion engines are perturbated in opposite senses and compared with the resulting acceleration of the vehicle to derive signals for adjusting the fuel flows in opposite senses to obtain maximum acceleration and hence minimum fuel supply. In Fig. 1, the speed of an aircraft is determined by a signal 106 which is compared with a signal 108 dependent on airspeed so that any difference is effective to adjust valves 114, 115 controlling the flow of fuel to port and starboard jet engines 102, 104. Sections 150, 170 of a digital computer derive ramp pulses from random binary sequences produced at 134 and apply them at 154, 174 to oscillate jet nozzles 164, 184 and/or other variables apart from the fuel supplies. Signals corresponding to the resulting variations in yaw acceleration as detected by an accelerometer 194 are applied to the computer which then produces signals 156, 176 which adjust the nozzles step by step until engine thrusts are a maximum. The heading of the aircraft is determined by a signal 120 which is compared with a signal 122 dependent on the heading so that any difference is effective to adjust rudder 130. A further section 190 of the computer derives ramp pulses from the random binary sequences produced at 134 and applies them at 196, 200 to oscillate fuel valves 114, 115 differentially. Signals corresponding to the resulting variations in forward acceleration as detected by an accelerometer 208 are applied to the computer which then produces signals 198, 202 which differentially adjust the fuel valves step by step until forward acceleration is a maximum.