An optically interfaced propulsion management system applied to a commercial transport aircraft

A fly-by-light propulsion management system to transport aircraft under development at Douglas Aircraft Company is described. The system includes an optically interfaced full-authority digital electronic control evaluation system, optical angular position sensors used to sense throttle position, a set of four optical position switches, and an optical ARINC 629 data link. These components, together with a mounting fixture for the sensors, optical cables and connectors, and a data-management unit, are being developed for design into an optical propulsion management system. This system is scheduled to be flight-evaluated on the NASA LaRC 737 ATOPS research aircraft. The objectives of this program are to evaluate the feasibility of using fiber-optic links across the engine/airframe interface and to encourage vendor participation in order to establish a state of vendor technology readiness for the early 1990s