CE367B UAV engine control unit

The CE367B (ECU Type B) is an engine control unit for fuel-injected UAV engines, made by Currawong Engineering. It is a miniature electronic engine management computer with closed-loop control of fuel injection, spark ignition, throttle position and fuel-pump pressure on small unmanned aircraft engines.

The unit takes over the functions an engine needs to run and stay within limits. It drives the injectors and the ignition, positions the throttle by servo, and regulates fuel pressure through a pump control loop. Injection and ignition timing, along with the other engine parameters, are held in fully configurable tables, so one hardware design can be calibrated to a wide range of engine sizes and configurations. The control algorithms derive from an automotive platform that was developed for multi-throttle engines with low manifold vacuum, and Currawong reports good results on two-stroke engines. The platform is accompanied by UAV-specific additions: barometric pressure sensing, a complete throttle and pump control solution, and telemetry designed for unmanned aircraft.

For the integrator, the main figures are size, supply and sensing. The enclosure measures 66 mm by 61 mm by 16 mm and the unit weighs 85 g, with a machined aluminium case that is EMI shielded. It runs from a single 8 to 20 V supply and draws less than 8 W when it is running the injectors, the ignition, the pump system, the throttle servo and every sensor. Two injector drivers are built in, and the maker states support for expansion to 8. The unit also provides a 6 V output for throttle servos and ignition units, and high-power drivers for general-purpose input and output ports that can be used for custom functions.

The sensor inputs are crank sensor, engine RPM, throttle position, manifold temperature, cylinder-head temperature, fuel pressure, manifold pressure and barometric pressure. Because all of these connect directly to the unit, a single box provides the complete monitoring picture of the engine that the flight controller or ground operator needs for condition checks and limit handling.

Integration with the airframe is through two electronic interfaces: RS232 serial and CAN. Both carry real-time engine telemetry and an engine control command set, so avionics can read engine data and issue commands in flight. The ECU is plug and play with Cloud Cap Technology Piccolo avionics. Engine-specific calibration is done through a software interface that allows every element of ECU operation to be adjusted, which makes the setup suitable for OEMs that tune the unit to their own engine and propeller combination.

Typical applications are small and medium UAV platforms with fuel-injected engines, including two-stroke and other piston engines in fixed-wing aircraft, where weight, EMI robustness and a single power supply matter. The maker also lists matching fuel injectors, fuel pumps, ignition units and temperature sensors as separate products.