A high-capacity aeronautical mobile satellite system

A conceptual system design is described for a satellite-based aeronautical safety communications system capable of serving both general aviation (GA) aircraft and commercial aviation (CA) aircraft in the contiguous US (CONUS) in the mid-1990s. It is shown how the large system capacity that is required can be obtained using a 15-m deployable antenna onboard a high-power commercial communications satellite expected to be available in the mid-1990s     

Firewire in modern integrated military avionics

High performance communications, navigation, and identification (CNI) functions on modern military aircraft are increasingly required for mission readiness. The operation of simultaneous waveforms through an integrated avionics rack of shared resources becomes a test in moving data rapidly from one signal processing stage to the next. The IEEE 1394, or Firewire, is a commercial high bandwidth bus whose 64-bit addressing and maximum 400 Mbits/second throughput satisfies this demanding military avionics interconnect need. The challenge in applying this commercial product to integrated avionics is the requirement to seamlessly add message priority encoding. By having message priorities, the slower strategic communications links will not impair the performance of higher data rate tactical communications, thereby avoiding potentially life-threatening bottlenecks. The flight environment imposes additional challenges to ruggedize the cabling between integrated avionics racks and to utilize the full capabilities of the Firewire bus. A discussion of the physical, data link, network, and transport layers, as used in avionics applications will be done. Additionally, the versatility of 1394 in military avionics with its variable channel sizes, bandwidth on demand, hierarchical addressing, and upgrade to 800 and 1600 Mbps with a 64-bit wide data path, is emphasized. Finally, system maintenance advantages of 1394's hot pluggable features are discussed, with an eye toward cost reduction on the flight line and total operational time of the aircraft avionics systems     

NETEX UWB test results

The goal of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Networking in Extreme Environments (NETEX) program is to create a wireless networking technology for the military user that enables robust connectivity in harsh environments and support its integration into new and emerging sensor and communication systems. Phase 1, resulted in a thorough understanding of the effects of ultra wide band (UWB) system operation on existing military spectrum users based on modeling, simulation, and measurements. In order to accomplish this task, the DARPA Advanced Technology Office (ATO) procured a set of UWB emitters and broadband antennas to use as interference sources and contracted with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC AD) Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E/sup 3/) Division to provide candidate victim systems from the existing (legacy) US naval aircraft and shipboard inventory for testing. Testing was conducted on seventeen legacy systems during October 2002 through March 2003. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief overview of the results of these tests. This paper will provide a brief discussion of the UWB emissions as described by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and describe the generic UWB emitter used for these tests. It will then provide a discussion of the results as they apply to the purpose of the NETEX program.     

Aerospace High Voltage Development

High voltage has been used for electrical power system generation, transmission, and distribution for over 75 years and manufacturers have been designing x-rays, radios/television transmitters and receivers for many years with excellent success. High voltage usage in aerospace equipment initiated during World War II with the advent of high power communications and radar for airplanes. About 20 years ago the first high voltage components were built for spacecraft systems. This article is to provide some insight into the status of high voltage for aerospace equipment and the differences between terrestial and aerospace system functions and the attendant problems. What are the basic differences between terrestial/commercial and aerospace equipment? The aerospace environment is defined as that significantly above the Earth's surface: From 5000 feet altitude to deep space. The basic differences are the constraints placed on the user vehicle (airplane, missile, or spacecraft). Constraints include: Atmospheric pressure, temperature, lifting capability, electronic requirements, and volume. Early airplanes needed only radios and mechanical pressurization instruments. Today's sophisticted airplanes require transmitters, receivers, controls, displays, and in the military case, special electronics. The addition of electronic devices has increased the electrical power demand from a few watts (for early aircraft) to well over one megawatt for special applications. There is the need for compact packaging to reduce weight and volume. Spacecraft with booster limitations are ever more restrictive of weight and volume then airplanes while they must maintain complete electrical system integrity for mission durations of several months to years.     

Data communications concept for a SATS scenario

The small aircraft transportation system (SATS) concept envisions doorstop to destination transportation in a safe and timely manner. Data communications are a key component in achieving the aviation-related operational performance improvements that are sought. However, data communication doesn't start when you get into the aircraft; it starts back at the location where the flight is planned. In fact, data communications support the pilot in all phases of the flight: flight planning, pre-flight, departure, en route, transition, approach, landing, and rollout as well as for a missed approach. The Internet is being used to perform flight planning activities, and the mobile communications available today support Internet access en route to the departure airfield. On-board the aircraft, data communications provide surveillance and air traffic control (ATC) support to the pilot. The location of other aircraft is available to the pilot and ATC system through automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) and traffic information service-broadcast (TIS-B) applications that transmit the location of other aircraft in the vicinity. Other aircraft locations are used to forecast potential conflicts and, thus, enhance flight safety. As the aircraft nears a SATS-equipped airfield, the pilot uses data link messages to request a landing sequence. The airport management module (AMM) provides a landing sequence assignment to the aircraft. As the pilot maneuvers the aircraft for a landing, he/she is using data-linked surveillance data to determine the location of other aircraft and maintain a safe separation distance between aircraft even in a low visibility environment.     

Data link communication equipment approved by USAF for civil air traffic control

Operations within civil airspace will transition from traditional ground-based air traffic control (ATC) to air traffic management (ATM), a concept that requires aircrews and ground managers to share responsibility of aircraft separation assurance. Increased levels of information exchange will be necessary for this concept to work safely; therefore, air-ground communications will transition from voice to data link communications. The nature of data link communications procurement requires that avionics suppliers not only verify their products meet contractual performance requirements, but also demonstrate that their products are compatible with civil communication networks and ATC. In addition, the USAF needs to demonstrate that their crew-training program is adequate to maintain the required level of aircrew proficiency and equipment can be maintained for the required level of system performance, integrity, and interoperability with the civil environment. This paper outlines some of the certification issues facing the USAF with respect to the "Approval for Use" of data link equipment to be used for communication with ATC. It will also suggest a methodology for the avionics supplier and USAF to obtain the approvals required to ensure the installation of data link communications equipment on military aircraft will remain interoperable with civil ATC.     

飞机/发动机一体化评估系统研究

本课题研究了一种快速的飞机/发动机一体化评估方法和软件,其主要特点是根据飞机飞行任务要求,同时对飞机/发动机系统的主要设计变量(如飞机起飞推重比、翼载、机翼几何参数和发动机循环参数等)进行有约束多目标优选,求得最佳方案。优选的目标函数和约束条件由飞机战术技术要求和飞行任务确定。 应用此评估系统,曾对某型歼击机进行改型方案论证。计算结果表明:优选后的飞机性能有明显改善;飞行任务要求不同,最佳方案飞机的推重比、翼载、机翼外形和发动机循环参数也不同。使用本系统方便和快速,每计算一个方案在IBM4341计算机上,所需CPU时间在1min以内。本评估系统适用于战斗飞机/发动机的设计和改型,经扩充后也可推广到民用飞机/发动机的方案论证工作。     

任务可靠度的估算分析

飞机设计工作中一项十分重要的任务是产品可靠性设计，本文回顾了任务可靠性的基本概念，给出了能够确定飞机完成任务可能性的任务可靠度的估算方法。在此基础上，为说明任务可靠度估算的实际过程，本文最后对某型飞机电传控制系统任务可靠度进行了分析，并给出了分析结论。     

Comparative study of lunar mission requirements and onboard propulsion system performance

In recent years, the lunar explorer programs, suspended for a long time, have resumed again with the rapid development of low cost and high-level technologies. As a result, several nations have made a success of lunar exploration programs with their own orbiters. Unlike a satellite orbiting the earth, the optimal design of an onboard propulsion system of a lunar orbiter is a major issue because it is not simple to make the orbiter arrive accurately at another planet far from the earth. Hence, a close attention is required to select and develop an appropriate type of the onboard propulsion system based on given mission requirements of a lunar orbiter. To do this, this study first surveys several lunar orbiters launched since 1990 and their major mission requirements. Then, it summarizes the technical trends of the onboard propulsion systems of the recent lunar orbiters and their key design and performance specifications through trade-off studies. By comparing these features, the present study investigates which lunar mission requirements are critically important, and how they can effect on the overall performance of an onboard propulsion system. Based on these investigations the major objective of the present study intends ultimately to set up a fundamental baseline in selecting and developing an appropriate type of onboard propulsion system of a lunar orbiter.     

自动相关监视系统信息传输性能分析方法及测试平台构建

本研究目的在于提出一种在民用飞机机载自动相关监视系统(Automatic Dependent Surveillance,简称ADS)系统设计和试验过程中实时/非实时检测该系统端到端信息传输性能的分析方法,并进行相应的地面测试平台搭建设计。对口于飞机的机载系统,ADS监视系统信息传输性能分析平台能够快速准确定位ADS系统的试验故障,实现有效的排故和分析,直观地评估自相关监视系统的工作状态。这项研究的结果有助于推动机载合同式自动相关监视系统(Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract,简称ADS-C)和广播式自动相关监视系统(Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast,简称ADS-B)机上地面功能试验、民机机上地面试验、民机飞行试验等各项工作的开展。该平台在飞机交付以后,也有利于维护工作与客户支持工作的进行。     

High gain airborne antenna for satellite communications

The performance of an airborne phased-array antenna, which was developed and evaluated onboard a commercial aircraft using the Engineering Test Satellite V (ETS-V), is reported. The system requirements and the antenna configuration that satisfies them are described. The radiation pattern, gain and axial ratio, noise temperature and ratio of gain to noise temperature, and environmental characteristics are presented. The results obtained by the flight experiments demonstrate that the performance of the antenna is the same as that on the ground, so that the antenna is suitable for installation in an aircraft for satellite communications     

装备保障建模仿真研究

为了评价作战单元的战备完好性、持续作战能力和保障能力,根据系统工程的建模仿真思想提出了装备保障建模研究的仿真概念模型,并以军用飞机为例对装备保障仿真试验进行了分析,包括任务、功能、维修过程和资源利用建模过程等。     

飞机在有源干扰保护下的探测概率研究

研究了飞机与雷达探测系统遭遇时，雷达对飞机的探测概率随距离的变化问题，采用X^2类目标波动模型，针对飞机在有源干扰保护的情况对探测概率随距离的变化进行了研究，对不同RCS对探测概率的影响问题进行了分析，研究结果可为飞机的雷达探测敏感性评估，飞机生存力的定量化分析与权衡，以及雷达探测系统的效能评估提供量化依据。     

"Electric Airplane" Environmental Control Systems Energy Requirements

The "electric airplane" environmental control system (ECS) design drivers is discussed for an electric airplane from two aspects. The first aspect considered is the type of aircraft. The three examples selected are the 150-passenger commercial airline transport, the military on-station electronic-surveillance patrol aircraft, and the air-defense interceptor fighter. These vehicle examples illustrate the effect of both mission and mission profile on the design requirements of the ECS and the differences that the requirements make on the resulting advantages and disadvantages of electrification. For the commercial transport, the selection of the air source for ventilation will be featured. For the patrol aircraft, the cooling unit will be evaluated. For the fighter, emphasis will be placed on the need for systems integration. The second and more important consideration is the definition of the environmental control system requirements for both energy supply and heat sink thermal management integration from the power plant (engine) that make an electric ECS viable for each type of vehicle.     

作战飞机的空-地攻击效能评估

用概率方法建立了描述单一飞机在威胁环境中攻击一个地面被动目标的数学模型,导出飞机对地攻击作战的任务成功率、目标被击毁率和飞机损失率等效能的表达式,给出用于效能评估的有关事件发生概率的计算公式,通过计算实例讨论了作战飞机空－地攻击效能的各种度量。     

Open system concepts for modular avionics

Advanced communications, guidance and navigation systems play key roles in determining superiority of one combat aircraft over another. The use of advanced technology is essential to meeting the mission requirements of present as well as future aircraft. Modular avionics are being used in next generation aircraft, such as the Air Force F-22 fighter and the Army Comanche helicopter, as the means of achieving higher levels of performance, including reduced volume and improved adaptability, maintainability, and expandability. New system acquisitions such as Joint Strike Fighter will attempt to achieve these same performance levels but at dramatically reduced life cycle cost. Retrofit applications will also take on increasing roles in meeting this affordability need as the Department of Defense (DoD) struggles to maintain readiness in the face of the shrinking defense budget. The government is encouraging the use of open standards practices as a means of addressing the affordability issue. The Open Systems Joint Task Force (OS-JTF), formed in September 1994, is chartered to “sponsor and accelerate the adoption of open systems in weapons systems and subsystem electronics to reduce life-cycle costs and facilitate effective weapon system intra- and interoperability”. The purpose of this paper is to relate the concept of open systems to modular avionics. It discusses the key attributes of an open systems approach and identifies key technologies necessary for its success     

UWB Perimeter Surveillance

This program will develop an automated and unmanned ultra-wide band (UWB) perimeter surveillance sensor designed to provide detection and tracking of personnel and vehicles at the perimeter of critical areas such as military installations and other such facilities. This effort describes the work being done for the protection of high value assets using a compact system which incorporates two technologies to enhance the probability of detection in stressing environments     

航迹规划中雷达探测空间的生成

从飞机突防习行任务规划出发，综合考虑地球曲率、陆地（或海洋）的反射和杂波干扰、大气折射和吸收损耗等因素的影响，采用临界散射截面法生成了对空警戒雷达在不同地貌、发现概率下，对不同雷达散射截面的目标的探测空间。计算并分析了飞行高度、目标雷达散射截面、发现概率和地貌等因素对雷达探测空间的影响，以便选择低探测概率的飞行走廓，这对制定和实施安全突防飞行策略有实际意义。     

Compact equipment for on-board communications subsystem supervisoryand control system

Onboard equipment for the communications subsystem supervisory and control (CSC) system of a next-generation multibeam high-capacity communications satellite is discussed. In order to keep the equipment as compact, lightweight, and low in power consumption as possible, an onboard data bus system using four kinds of LSIs was developed. It will be carried on-board the Japanese Engineering Test Satellite VI for launch in 1993. Configuration and functions of the CSC equipment, design philosophy of the LSIs, and characteristics of the LSIs developed are discussed