Award Recognizes An Outstanding Engineering Accomplishment
Pratt & Whitney engineers Louis
Celiberti, Timothy Crowley, James Fuller and Cary Powell have won
the George Mead Award -- United Technologies highest award for
outstanding engineering achievement -- for their pioneering work in
developing the world's first advanced multi-variable control (AMVC)
design for the only engine that powers the F-35 Lightning II flight
test program.
The AMVC, which uses a proprietary model predictive control
methodology, is the most technically advanced propulsion system
control ever produced by the aerospace industry, demonstrating the
highest pilot rating for flight performance and providing
independent control of vertical thrust and pitch from five sources.
This innovative and industry-leading advanced design is protected
with five broad patents for Pratt & Whitney and UTC, and is the
new standard for propulsion system control for Pratt & Whitney
military and commercial engines.
The Pratt & Whitney F135 propulsion system control enables
the F-35 to operate successfully in two modes: the conventional
takeoff and landing (CTOL) mode, and short takeoff and vertical
landing (STOVL) mode. The AMVC design solves the most technically
challenging performance requirements of the entire F-35 program,
the ability to precisely and independently control lift (thrust)
and aircraft pitch (split between front and rear post thrust). By
applying the precise control of the magnitude and direction of
thrust, safe and predictable vertical lift flight is now possible.
The F135 propulsion system control provides a major step-change in
safe and reliable vertical operation for military aircraft.
"The Pratt & Whitney advanced
multi-variable control is integrated directly into the aircraft's
flight control system and provides the F135 with the ability to
maintain thrust requirements while safely operating at or near
physical engine limits. The failure immunity built into this system
is key to achieving the single engine safety requirement of the
F-35 aircraft for our military customer," said Jayant Sabnis,
System Analysis & Aerodynamics Chief, Pratt & Whitney.
"This is a very important engineering achievement and it
represents the highest technical recognition awarded by United
Technologies Corporation," said Paul Adams, senior vice president,
Pratt & Whitney Engineering. "I am extremely proud of the
exceptional contributions of these individuals, as well as the
dedication and professionalism of the entire P&W team, in
bringing both the control system and the engine to this remarkable
state of readiness."
The AMVC team honored with the George Mead Award consists of
Louis Celiberti, F135 Controls & Diagnostics Systems CIPT
Leader; Tim Crowley, Controls & Diagnostics Systems Staff
Engineer; James Fuller, Controls & Diagnostics Fellow; and Cary
Powell, Controls & Diagnostics Systems Staff Engineer, all of
whom work in East Hartford, CT.
The same control system architecture is used in all three
variants of the Pratt & Whitney-powered F135 single-engine F-35
Lightning II, and the technology will also provide benefits to
P&W's Next Generation Product Family commercial engines
currently in development.
File Photo
The Mead Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in
engineering or science. UTC has recognized outstanding achievements
in engineering and science with this award for more than 50 years.
Named for George Jackson Mead, the first vice president of
engineering for Pratt & Whitney, UTC's oldest and most
prestigious Corporate Award has been given to 219 individuals in 94
separate citations. It remains the only UTC corporate award
presented to individuals.
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