Project Abstract :

Penn State seniors Daniel Pherson, Eric Wang, and James Perez have teamed up with Bryan Berical and Joe Fledderman of BAE Systems to create a voltage and current fault level monitor. The purpose of this device is to detect voltage and current levels in aircraft controls that are outside of a specified range and report them to a PC and a DOT matrix display. This device will help BAE systems to create safer aircraft controls that will be used in military and commercial applications.

This solution will be implemented using and analog signal conditioning system coupled with a digital signal processing system implemented on a FPGA. The analog portion of this system has been designed using a network of resistors and op-amps to condition inputs of +/-5V, +/-50V, and +/-1A in to voltages ranging from 0 to 2.5V. Analog to digital converters will convert these voltages into digital values. The digital portion of the system will process the voltage and current values. The digital system will communicate the voltage and current values to a PC using a UART interface. A DOT matrix display connected to the FPGA will display the voltage and current levels as well as their fault status.

This system will benefit BAE systems because of its ability to detect voltage and current errors in their aircraft control systems. Precision is an important aspect of the aerospace controls industry; errors and faults can cost lives. This system will aid BAE Systems in their attempt to create safe and functional aircraft controls.

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