Engine load model systems and methods

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide improved engine load models are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a model generator to generate an engine load model for an engine using flight information, weather information, and manifest information to predict a load on the engine from an engine subsystem utilization modeled for a flight. The example model generator is to incorporate the engine load model into an engine model, the engine model representing engine behavior for the flight. The example model generator is to determine a first measure of thrust from the engine and a second measure of fuel flow to the engine using the engine model with the engine load model, the engine load model to modify engine behavior by the predicted load on the engine from the engine subsystem utilization. The example model generator is to generate flight parameters for a flight path using the first measure of thrust and the second measure of fuel flow for the predicted load on the engine based on the engine load model.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor and a memory, the processor including a model generator to:
 generate an engine load model for an engine using flight information, weather information, and manifest information to predict a load on the engine from an engine subsystem utilization modeled for a flight; 
 incorporate the engine load model into an engine model, the engine model representing engine behavior for the flight; 
 determine a first measure of thrust from the engine and a second measure of fuel flow to the engine using the engine model with the engine load model, the engine load model to modify engine behavior by the predicted load on the engine from the engine subsystem utilization; and 
 generate flight parameters for a flight path using the first measure of thrust and the second measure of fuel flow for the predicted load on the engine based on the engine load model. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engine subsystem includes at least one of an electrical subsystem, a hydraulic subsystem, or a pneumatic subsystem. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the engine load model includes at least one of an electrical load model, a hydraulic load model, or a pneumatic load model. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the engine load model provides information regarding how vehicle weight is to change, how much fuel is to be burned, and how environmental conditions are to impact engine operation for the flight. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the engine model including the engine load model is to predict load on the engine from engine subsystem utilization to configure a flight management system to account for conditions encountered during the flight according to the engine model. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the engine load model includes at least one of flight information, weather information, or manifest information stored in a data structure as modeled values. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the engine load model further includes composite modeled values stored in the data structure, the composite modeled values generated from a combination of the flight information, weather information, and manifest information. 
     
     
         8 . A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to implement at least a model generator configured to:
 generate an engine load model for an engine using flight information, weather information, and manifest information to predict a load on the engine from an engine subsystem utilization modeled for a flight;   incorporate the engine load model into an engine model, the engine model modeling engine behavior for the flight;   determine a first measure of thrust from the engine and a second measure of fuel flow to the engine using the engine model with the engine load model, the engine load model to modify engine behavior by the predicted load on the engine from the engine subsystem utilization; and   generate flight parameters for a flight path using the first measure of thrust and the second measure of fuel flow for the predicted load on the engine based on the engine load model.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the engine subsystem includes at least one of an electrical subsystem, a hydraulic subsystem, or a pneumatic subsystem. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the engine load model includes at least one of an electrical load model, a hydraulic load model, or a pneumatic load model. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the engine load model provides information regarding how vehicle weight is to change, how much fuel is to be burned, and how environmental conditions are to impact engine operation for the flight. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the engine model including the engine load model is to predict load on the engine from engine subsystem utilization to configure a flight management system to account for conditions encountered during the flight according to the engine model. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the engine load model includes flight information, weather information, and manifest information stored in a data structure as modeled values. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the engine load model further includes composite modeled values stored in the data structure, the composite modeled values generated from a combination of the flight information, weather information, and manifest information. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 generating, using a processor, an engine load model for an engine using flight information, weather information, and manifest information to predict a load on the engine from an engine subsystem utilization modeled for a flight;   incorporating, using the processor, the engine load model into an engine model, the engine model representing engine behavior for the flight;   determining, using the processor, a first measure of thrust from the engine and a second measure of fuel flow to the engine using the engine model with the engine load model, the engine load model to modify engine behavior by the predicted load on the engine from the engine subsystem utilization; and   generating, using the processor, flight parameters for a flight path using the first measure of thrust and the second measure of fuel flow for the predicted load on the engine based on the engine load model.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the engine subsystem includes at least one of an electrical subsystem, a hydraulic subsystem, or a pneumatic subsystem, and wherein the engine load model includes at least one of an electrical load model, a hydraulic load model, or a pneumatic load model. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the engine load model provides information regarding how vehicle weight is to change, how much fuel is to be burned, and how environmental conditions are to impact engine operation for the flight. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing the engine model including the engine load model to predict load on the engine from engine subsystem utilization to configure a flight management system to account for conditions encountered during the flight according to the engine model. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the engine load model includes flight information, weather information, and manifest information stored in a data structure as modeled values. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the engine load model further includes composite modeled values stored in the data structure, the composite modeled values generated from a combination of the flight information, weather information, and manifest information.