Wide-Range Variable Cycle Engine Control Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning

In this paper, a controller design method based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed for a wide-range variable cycle engine with a turbine interstage mixed architecture. The PID controller is subject to limitations, including single-input single-output limitations, low regulation efficiency, a...

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Main Authors: Yaoyao Ding, Fengming Wang, Yuanwei Mu, Hongfei Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Aerospace
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/5/424
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author Yaoyao Ding
Fengming Wang
Yuanwei Mu
Hongfei Sun
author_facet Yaoyao Ding
Fengming Wang
Yuanwei Mu
Hongfei Sun
author_sort Yaoyao Ding
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, a controller design method based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed for a wide-range variable cycle engine with a turbine interstage mixed architecture. The PID controller is subject to limitations, including single-input single-output limitations, low regulation efficiency, and poor adaptability when confronted with contemporary variable cycle engines that exhibit complex and multi-variable operating conditions. To solve this problem, this paper adopts a deep reinforcement learning method based on a deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm, and it applies an action space pruning technique to optimize the controller, which significantly improves the convergence speed of network training. In order to verify the control performance, two typical flight conditions are selected for simulation experiments as follows: in the first scenario, H = 0 km and Ma = 0, while in the second scenario, H = 10 km and Ma = 0.9. A comparison of the simulation results shows that the proposed deep reinforcement learning controller effectively addresses the engine’s multi-variable coupling control problem. In addition, it reduces response time by an average of 44.5%, while maintaining a similar overshoot level to that of the PID controller.
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id doaj-art-21211f96f321434d8d100a916c7d5c4e
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issn 2226-4310
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Aerospace
spelling doaj-art-21211f96f321434d8d100a916c7d5c4e2025-08-20T03:14:43ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102025-05-0112542410.3390/aerospace12050424Wide-Range Variable Cycle Engine Control Based on Deep Reinforcement LearningYaoyao Ding0Fengming Wang1Yuanwei Mu2Hongfei Sun3School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, ChinaAero Engine Academy of China, Beijing 101304, ChinaAero Engine Academy of China, Beijing 101304, ChinaSchool of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, ChinaIn this paper, a controller design method based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed for a wide-range variable cycle engine with a turbine interstage mixed architecture. The PID controller is subject to limitations, including single-input single-output limitations, low regulation efficiency, and poor adaptability when confronted with contemporary variable cycle engines that exhibit complex and multi-variable operating conditions. To solve this problem, this paper adopts a deep reinforcement learning method based on a deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm, and it applies an action space pruning technique to optimize the controller, which significantly improves the convergence speed of network training. In order to verify the control performance, two typical flight conditions are selected for simulation experiments as follows: in the first scenario, H = 0 km and Ma = 0, while in the second scenario, H = 10 km and Ma = 0.9. A comparison of the simulation results shows that the proposed deep reinforcement learning controller effectively addresses the engine’s multi-variable coupling control problem. In addition, it reduces response time by an average of 44.5%, while maintaining a similar overshoot level to that of the PID controller.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/5/424wide-rangevariable cycle enginePID controldeep reinforcement learningaction space pruning
spellingShingle Yaoyao Ding
Fengming Wang
Yuanwei Mu
Hongfei Sun
Wide-Range Variable Cycle Engine Control Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
Aerospace
wide-range
variable cycle engine
PID control
deep reinforcement learning
action space pruning
title Wide-Range Variable Cycle Engine Control Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
title_full Wide-Range Variable Cycle Engine Control Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
title_fullStr Wide-Range Variable Cycle Engine Control Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
title_full_unstemmed Wide-Range Variable Cycle Engine Control Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
title_short Wide-Range Variable Cycle Engine Control Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
title_sort wide range variable cycle engine control based on deep reinforcement learning
topic wide-range
variable cycle engine
PID control
deep reinforcement learning
action space pruning
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/5/424
work_keys_str_mv AT yaoyaoding widerangevariablecycleenginecontrolbasedondeepreinforcementlearning
AT fengmingwang widerangevariablecycleenginecontrolbasedondeepreinforcementlearning
AT yuanweimu widerangevariablecycleenginecontrolbasedondeepreinforcementlearning
AT hongfeisun widerangevariablecycleenginecontrolbasedondeepreinforcementlearning