AEC identified specific technologies (eddy current and ultrasonic acoustic sensors, and piezoelectric actuators) as having significant potential for new forms of implementation in engine controls. AEC extended this process of engagement with specialists to ensure state of the art technology is available for aerospace controls.

Specifically within this programme:

• AEC developed new means of interaction between the metering system and the sensors and actuators.
• Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik, a German SME, developed an eddy current sensor system for continuous monitoring and proximity sensing.
• Oxford Radio Frequency Sensors, an SME closely linked to Oxford University Clarendon Laboratory, developed piezoelectric acoustic mass flow measurement developed from recent advances in medical physics.
• AEC pulled through work already committed with Newcastle University to develop piezoelectric acoustic position sensing, also drawing on research work underway with Leeds University. Some of this design and manufacturing work will probably be sub-contracted to a Danish specialist company, Noliac
• AEC also pulled through work already underway with Bath University to develop a new generation of piezoelectric actuators with the potential to actuate both direct drive and servo-system control of aerospace fuel systems.
• AEC carried out whole system environmental testing on in house test facilities normally used for the development and qualification of civil and military fuel control systems for production application.

All these systems were compact, robust, reliable, and precise by virtue of the base technologies that are being applied, and also due to the design capability within AEC to design fit for purpose aerospace controls.