Futuristic aircraft engine control room with engineers analyzing holographic simulations.

Sky's the Limit: Designing Smarter Control Systems for Aircraft Engines

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Samir D’Costa in Tech & Innovation December 2025 • 4 min read.

"How a New Simulation Platform is Set to Revolutionize Aircraft Engine Control System Design"


In the relentless pursuit of improved aeroengine performance, the demands placed on their control systems are ever-increasing. The complexity inherent in these systems necessitates rigorous simulation during the design and development phases. Accurate modeling and simulation of aeroengines and their control systems are vital for creating advanced air-propulsion systems that are cost-effective, have short development cycles and operate with high efficiency.

The challenge lies in establishing a simulation platform that is not only accurate but also highly efficient. Existing systems often lack the flexibility and convenience needed for comprehensive control system design. To address this gap, researchers have been exploring innovative solutions to create more versatile and user-friendly simulation environments.

This article delves into the design of an integrated simulation platform for aircraft engine control systems. Built on the foundation of MATLAB/Simulink, this visual simulation system aims to streamline controller design and enhance performance simulation for closed-loop transition states. The goal is to provide a convenient, flexible, and generic platform that can be easily expanded for future research and development.

What Makes This Simulation Platform a Game-Changer?

Futuristic aircraft engine control room with engineers analyzing holographic simulations.

The newly designed simulation platform incorporates several key design goals to overcome the limitations of existing systems. These goals focus on creating a versatile and efficient tool for engine modeling and control system design:

The platform prioritizes a modular design, dividing the software architecture into four independent modules. This approach allows users to modify, optimize, or expand the platform's functions based on specific simulation goals, facilitating the interactive design of various simulation platforms. The four modules are:

  • GUI Designed Dialog Module: Provides an interactive interface for users based on simulation requirements, designed using MATLAB GUI. It manages the simulation platform's functions and provides control and input information.
  • Data Module: Offers data support for simulation running, built with data management tools in MATLAB. The database is highly portable, allowing users to employ user-defined databases or export data for analysis.
  • Signal Processing and IO Module: Manages data interaction between the user interface, algorithm module, and data module. It screens and converts data formats and stores operating data in the corresponding database.
  • Algorithm Module: Implements the algorithms for the functional modules of the entire platform, supporting both designing and testing modes.
The platform's algorithm module is particularly noteworthy. In engine modeling, a piecewise linearization method is used to design the state space model of the engine. Based on these models, an S-function module in Simulink establishes a piecewise linearized engine model using exponential weighting with a balance factor. This method ensures accurate and adaptable engine representation. The steady calculation at set point is to establish a steady-state relationship between the engine thrust and the controlled variable in a given fuel supply quantity. The controller’s function is to adjust the control variable for desired values while meeting the user-defined frequency response indices.

The Future of Aircraft Engine Design

This innovative simulation platform represents a significant step forward in the design and development of aircraft engine control systems. Its modular structure, comprehensive functionality, and stable operation make it an invaluable tool for researchers and engineers. By providing an accurate, efficient, and versatile simulation environment, this platform promises to accelerate innovation and improve the safety and reliability of future air travel.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.23919/chicc.2018.8482997, Alternate LINK

Title: Design Of Simulation Platform For Control System In Aircraft Engine

Journal: 2018 37th Chinese Control Conference (CCC)

Publisher: IEEE

Authors: Linfeng Gou, Zhidan Liu, Aixia Liang, Lulu Wang, Zihan Zhou

Published: 2018-07-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

What is the primary objective of the new simulation platform in the context of aircraft engine control systems?

The primary objective of the new simulation platform is to streamline the design and performance simulation of aircraft engine control systems, particularly for closed-loop transition states. This involves providing a convenient, flexible, and generic platform built on MATLAB/Simulink that can be easily expanded for future research and development. The platform aims to overcome the limitations of existing systems by offering enhanced efficiency and accuracy in engine modeling and control system design.

2

How does the modular design of the simulation platform enhance its usability and adaptability?

The simulation platform is divided into four independent modules: the GUI Designed Dialog Module, the Data Module, the Signal Processing and IO Module, and the Algorithm Module. This modular design allows users to modify, optimize, or expand the platform's functions based on specific simulation goals. This facilitates the interactive design of various simulation platforms, offering greater flexibility and customization compared to monolithic systems.

3

Can you describe how the Algorithm Module models the engine and its control in the simulation platform?

Within the Algorithm Module, a piecewise linearization method is employed to design the state space model of the engine. Based on these models, an S-function module in Simulink establishes a piecewise linearized engine model using exponential weighting with a balance factor, ensuring accurate and adaptable engine representation. The module also handles steady-state calculations to establish a relationship between engine thrust and controlled variables, adjusting these variables to meet user-defined frequency response indices. This detailed modeling supports precise simulation and control system design.

4

What role does MATLAB/Simulink play in the creation and functionality of this simulation platform?

MATLAB/Simulink serves as the foundational technology upon which the entire simulation platform is built. The platform's GUI is designed using MATLAB GUI, the data module leverages data management tools in MATLAB, and Simulink is used to establish the piecewise linearized engine model through S-function modules. The integration of MATLAB/Simulink provides a robust and familiar environment for users, enhancing the platform's usability and effectiveness in simulating complex engine control systems.

5

What implications does this simulation platform have for the future of aircraft engine design and air travel?

This simulation platform represents a significant advancement in the design and development of aircraft engine control systems. Its modular structure and comprehensive functionality accelerate innovation and improve the safety and reliability of future air travel. By providing an accurate, efficient, and versatile simulation environment, engineers can more effectively design and test engine control systems, leading to improvements in performance, cost-effectiveness, and reduced development cycles.

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