A microprocessor-based engine controller was developed for the M1A1 battle tank’s Textron Lycoming AGT1500 Gas Turbine Engine. A discussion of production (Block I) and future generation (Block II) Digital Electronic Control is first given to show their evolution. The design includes many unique adaptive features: fault storage, software downloading by serial communication (RS232 or MIL-STD-1553), back-up battery, Real Time Clock, protective modes, diagnostic and health monitoring, etc. Additional features address reliability, maintainability, interchangeability, and a hostile nuclear environment; including radiated susceptibility, nuclear radiation, etc. Detailed discussion is included of functional architecture, hardware implementation and design considerations such as: CPU (Central Processing Unit) and associated circuitry design, signal processing, Analog/Digital and Digital/Analog conversion, and software Standards, Procedure, and Methodology. A brief discussion of a future enhancement feature, a Diagnostic Memory Unit for history recording and storage via RS232 data bus, is included in this paper.

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