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Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is pursuing development of advanced, distributed, intelligent, adaptive engine controls and engine health monitoring systems. The goals this pursuit are enhancing engine performance, safety, affordability, operability, and reliability while reducing obsolescence risk. The development of smart, high-bandwidth, high-temperature-operable, wide-range, pressure/temperature multi-sensors, which addresses these goals, is discussed. The resulting sensors and packaging can be manufactured at low cost and operate in corrosive environments, while measuring temperatures up to 2,552 °F (1,400 °C) with simultaneous pressure measurements up to 1,000 psi (68 atm). Such a sensor suite provides unprecedented monitoring of propulsion, energy generation, and industrial systems. The multi-sensor approach reduces control system weight and wiring complexity, design time, and cost, while increasing accuracy and fault tolerance.

Actuators are critical engine and flight control components used in aerospace applications for motion and fuel controls. All aircraft today contain three primary types of actuators; electro-mechanical actuators (EMA), electro-hydraulic actuators (EHA), hydraulic actuators. Actuators control thrust vectoring of the main engines during powered ascent, movement of the aerodynamic control surfaces, and the positioning of propulsion system geometry and fuel/air control valves. EMAs consist of an electric motor and gear-train to reduce speed, translate motion, and provide appropriate load torque. Electro-hydraulic actuators are self contained systems that combine the benefits of an electric system with the benefits of hydraulic systems. EHAs use an electric motor to drive a hydraulic pump which develops hydraulic pressure to act on a cylinder to provide the mechanical actuation energy. Hydraulic actuators use a centralized hydraulic pump that supplies the required pressure.