PECS specializes and has extensive experience in design, development and manufacturing of Electronic Controls, particularly Full Authority Digital Engine Control Systems (FADECs). FADECs are DECU’s or ECU’s that are dedicated to aerospace engine control applications. PECS many years of development and experience have resulted in today’s controls incorporating highly refined technology and techniques in hardware, imbedded software and systems. The imbedded software operates in real time interacting with the hardware functions. The particular applications’ control system requirements are developed in the laboratory and fully tested in a comprehensive simulation facility, using rapid prototyping methods. Once proven, the sophisticated algorithms are coded using methods that comply with rigorous military, commercial, and regulatory agencies. As alternatives, customer algorithms and code can be merged into the FADEC system.
Typical systems interface to other PECS/Goodrich engine components, particularly HMUs. These other components form part of more highly integrated systems that often offer customers distinct advantages.
PECS has been an industry leader in FADEC Engine Control Systems supporting both commercial and military helicopter markets. We have been a key supplier to US Army’s military helicopter programs for many years. Development of today’s products represents the success of our first generation ECU’s introduced during the mid 1970’s with introduction of the models EMC-12 and EMC-85. These early products were based on analog semiconductor and early microprocessor technologies, which were state of the art for the period. Subsequent research programs both internally and externally funded developed ground breaking sophisticated control techniques used in later generation products.
PECS’ second and third generation systems developed in the 1980’s (EMC-32R and EMC-32T) and 1990’s (EMC-35A, EMC-35B, and EMC-35E) have made use of expanding technology to put advanced algorithms and control capability into cost effective, highly capable controllers.
Although these third generation systems possess more I/O, enhanced fault monitoring, better built in test (BIT), and higher computational capabilities than second generation systems, both feature substantial and robust engine benefits. These include consistent acceleration and deceleration times irrespective of engine condition and engine-to-engine variations, and preservation of surge margin throughout the operating envelope along with surge recovery algorithms. The controls also feature accurate flow metering at idle and power conditions, integral limiters to protect the engine from overspeeds on the power turbine and gas generator, and engine temperature limiting. These controls required no calibration or adjustment over time, and were On Condition Maintenance (OCM) items.
The success of PECS second and third generation controls has been proven by the delivery of thousands of controls operating over 7 million flight hours in a variety of diverse and difficult climate, flight and application conditions.
PECS current generation products such as the EMC-100 (Universal Control Technology Program) have further advanced the state of the art in engine control design through the use of multi processors and multi channel architectures. These have delivered the power of desktop computers into the Aero-Industrial arena. Today’s electronic components compress formidable processing capacity onto small Surface Mount Technology (SMT) packages offering unheard of computational power and memory, power device capability and increased signal processing in a low cost, small and lightweight package. This versatile new technology offers both power and ultimate application flexibility.
Military:
PECS currently is the sole supplier of the US Army’s fielded FADEC systems. PECS systems are flying today on the Chinook, Kiowa Warrior, and A/MH-6M Little Birds helicopters. PECS has been the Army’s technology leader in the area of helicopter engine control systems since the 1950’s supporting the Bell Huey and Cobra helicopters. We delivered over 30,000 of these older hydromechanical controls, which are still serviced today and have stood the test of time from Vietnam to Desert Storm operations.
PECS today holds the leadership position on current and future Army controls development. Several key examples of this relationship include positioning as the Systems designer of the Comanche Engine control, and Systems/Hardware/Software designer of the Universal Control program for multiple Army applications like Blackhawk and Apache. The advanced engine control features developed continuously since the 1970’s have been incorporated into the Comanche control to provide the Army’s state-of-the-art helicopter unprecedented engine performance advantages. The Advanced Army Adaptive Program, a contract under the Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) at Ft. Eustis, VA, is an extension of the earlier work for the Army. This continues control law hardware, and software research and development beyond Comanche, and can be applied to upcoming programs, such as the Army’s Common Engine Program (CEP), development programs (such as the new Army Universal Control program), or fielded programs (such as Chinook, Kiowa, etc.). The new Universal Control, in particular, incorporates software techniques and architecture that makes it easy to add new functionality to fielded units which can extend the controllers’ operational life while warding off technical obsolescence.
Commercial:
PECS has also been on the forefront of introducing FADEC technology to the commercial helicopter market. We supply FADEC systems for the Bell 407 and 430 models, the MD Helicopters MD600N (EMC-35A), and the Eurocopter EC-135 (EMC-35B) helicopters. This combined experience has helped PECS to become a leading commercial helicopter FADEC supplier. An application example of this is a follow-on product in the EMC-35A/B family, the EMC-35E. This control was developed to be a lower cost commercial version whose design origin was a higher priced military product. Today this control is used on the CTS800 engine, powering the Agusta Westland Super Lynx.
PECS is responding with innovative solutions for the commercial market in current product applications. Variations of the new Universal Control are adapted to special customer needs to address the performance and cost pressures that exist in the commercial segment. New product offerings have taken on more functionality, providing systems that incorporate cockpit interfaces and full system integration features, providing sensors, harnessing, and all the fuel pumping and control system components into a single integrated package. These design developments have made possible high performance, cost effective systems that are suitable for the highly cost sensitive General Aviation market.
The many years of experience in designing and producing products for the demanding aerospace market puts PECS in the right position to solve a variety of diverse product application problems with effective hardware and/or imbedded software designs that will perform well in the user’s environment. PECs Electronic Control Technology can be applied to many other applications, including Industrial and Marine.
Electronic Units can be “married” to various different hydromechanical units, with varying degrees of redundancy and differences in backup technology.
Mechanical
Primarily legacy products, these controls offer simplicity and high reliability.
MC-40 TA
Electronic Primary channel / Hydromechanical Backup
These controls offer the performance advantage of digital control, with the simplicity of a mechanical backup. An independent Gas Generator / Power Turbine Overspeed Limiter can be offered with these controls
EMC-32R EMC-35A EMC-35B
EMC-32T EMC-91 EMC-35E