Air traffic management design considerations

An air traffic management system (ATMS) is a network-centric system being used to manage another network-centric system, namely, an air transportation system. We are developing a design language for network-centric systems and design guidelines for the development system of engineers and domain specialists involved in designing and integrating systems. Note: this development system with today's technology is also a network-centric system. An outline of the design language under construction and the design guidelines being studied is provided. Specifically we discuss ATMS mission objectives (e.g., average yearly throughput of people and freight for a high demand scenario); ATMS sample usage scenarios (e.g., ATMS reroutes air traffic in time and space in reaction to major weather deviation along the northeast coast); and system objectives for an ATMS (e.g., timelines of a specific high volume of messages from aircraft, weather sensors, and airports). We lay out some key design decisions associated with both the development system of engineers and domain specialists and the operational ATMS. Examples of key design decisions for the engineering system are: 1) appropriate partitioning of functional/physical architectures of the engineering system; 2) appropriate degree to telecollaboration and collaboration among design/integration groups; 3) appropriate incremental delivery packages for an incremental delivery schedule of ATMS elements; and 4) appropriate levels and thrusts of the risk management program. Examples of key design decisions for the operational ATMS are: 1) throughput and security trades of the ATMS and 2) throughput and resiliency to weather changes. Finally, we relate network-centric architecture issues to both of the above sets of design decisions.     

Guiding technology development and transition into productsresponsive to end-user needs

It is argued that a systems engineering process that develops an understanding of end-user needs and economically develops a product system which includes the right technology advances to satisfy these needs is the best way to ensure success in the market of end-user needs. This customer pulled approach to new and improved products also pulls the necessary technology developments with it and integrates their timing and resource requirements into those of the end product planning. With appropriate concurrent, cross-functional teams working both the planning and the execution, this approach benefits from the wisdom and leadership of the end-user focused team to deliver the desired program results on schedule. This frees top leadership to focus on longer range visions for the product line and technologies     

Integrated modular avionics for next generation commercialairplanes

The goals are objectives of integrated modular avionics (IMA) are discussed. One candidate computing architecture for IMA, the Boeing 777 Airplane Information Management System (AIMS), is presented. The cabinet architecture, fault tolerance characteristics, backplane bus, and functional growth provisions are considered. The integration concepts developed for AIMS represent a first step in real-world application of the IMA technologies     

Boeing 777 high lift control system

The Boeing 777 high lift control systems (HLCS), a state-of-the-art microprocessor-based system that provides fly-by-wire control, protection, and built-in-test and maintenance access functions for the leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps drive and actuation systems, is discussed. This system is designed to take advantage of technologically proven concepts as well as judicious application of new concepts in response to market demands, airline customer input, and a thorough review of lessons learned from previous aircraft programs. The purpose of the HLCS, the wing high lift devices it controls, the HLCS components, its three modes of operation, automatic functions, and system failure protections are described. The use of the EASY5 engineering analysis program developed by the Boeing Company to model dynamic systems in both the time and frequency domains for modeling mechanical and hydraulic portions of the high lift system is discussed     

The management of stray radiation issues in space optical systems

The performance of infrared and submillimeter systems can be severely degraded by stray light. Stray light includes off-axis radiation, system diffraction and scattering effects, and thermal self-emission. The purpose of this paper is to identify several keys to preventing system degradation due to stray radiation. The first key is to apply stray light design rules and analysis techniques early in the program before the design is finalized. A systems level analysis using stray light analysis software is often necessary in order to identify more subtle problems and to assess the magnitude of their effect on system performance. Another key is to address contamination control and the choice of surface coatings early in the program. The management of stray radiation issues is extremely cost-effective, if begun early in the program, and can reduce later schedule hardships.     

Prototype personal navigation system

Honeywell Laboratories recently funded the development of a prototype personal navigation system based on MEMS technologies. The system components include a MEMS inertial measurement unit, a three-axis magnetometer, a barometric pressure sensor, and a SAASM GPS receiver. The system also uses Honeywell's human motion-based pedometry algorithm. The navigation process is based on a strap-down inertial navigator aided by feedback from a Kalman filter using typical measurements from the GPS, magnetometer and barometer when available. A key innovation is the addition of an independent measurement of distance traveled based on the use of a human motion algorithm. The navigation system combines the best features of dead reckoning and inertial navigation, resulting in positioning performance exceeding that achieved with either method alone. Subsequent to the Honeywell effort, DARPA funded an individual Personal Inertial Navigation System (iPINS) seedling program. Honeywell worked to improve the baseline personal navigation system with the objective of demonstrating the feasibility of reliably achieving navigation accuracy < 1 % of distance traveled in GPS-denied scenarios. In addition, an analysis was conducted to determine the benefit of incorporating terrain correlation into the personal navigation system. The results of this analysis indicate that overall navigation accuracy can be significantly improved through the application of terrain correlation. This presents an are presented. In addition, conclusions from the terrain correlation analysis conducted under the iPINS seedling program are included.     

飞机五性一体化协同工作平台框架设计

通过对比国内外可靠性、维修性、测试性、安全性和保障性工作现状,归纳了国内在飞机研制过程中五性一体化的设计特点以及在工程应用方面存在的问题与差距,给出飞机研制过程中开展五性一体化设计的流程和数据、工作及工具接口协同需求,然后对五性一体化协同设计平台进行了初步构想(包括平台建设原则、平台规划和平台建设中需要突破的关键技术等内容),为解决飞机研制过程中五性设计优化、整合及综合权衡以及数据共享等提供技术支持。     

What is systems engineering?

There are probably more definitions of “Systems Engineering” than there are AESS members. In its simplest form systems engineering is the design of the whole as opposed to the design of the parts. The vast number, complexity and diversity of elements can overwhelm and degrade system performance and reliability. Embedded processing and software can be both a boon and a bane. A systems engineer analyzes and optimizes an ensemble of elements that relate to the flow of energy, mass and communications into a design that performs the desired function. “Systems engineering” is used herein to cover a very broad spectrum of processes and controls to engineer a product at the many levels required to satisfy all aspects of the original requirement. Our definition is not intended to either include or exclude systems engineering and integration as used in the computer field. In any case, systems engineering is the application of solid engineering principles to design and develop a large enterprise within cost and schedule to satisfy the needs of the ultimate user. It involves conceptualization, design, development, test, implementation, approval/certification and operation (including human factors) of a system. In essence, systems engineering is a problem-solving discipline for the modern world     

基于模型的飞机地面减速系统架构设计方法

地面减速功能在飞机上的实现涉及多个系统,其综合系统架构具有很高的复杂性,多系统间的接口数量巨大且接口形式多样,多系统间的动态协同工作逻辑比较复杂。为了应对这种复杂性,提出了基于模型的系统架构设计方法,将SysML建模语言和面向对象的建模思想应用到飞机地面减速系统的架构设计和行为分析中,可以实现系统架构元素的统一定义和分解,以及多系统集成架构的统一接口定义和分析,同时可以实现系统静态架构和动态行为的协同设计;搭建了飞机级和系统级的架构模型和行为模型,实现了地面减速综合功能的分析和多系统集成架构的设计。实践表明,基于SysML的飞机地面减速综合系统架构设计方法可以有效应对多系统集成设计的复杂性,并提升集成设计的效率和质量。     

Hybrid Simulation System Study of SINS/CNS Integrated Navigation

In flight tests, to demonstrate the performance of integrated navigation systems, which are strapdown inertial navigation systems/celestial navigation systems (SINS/CNS), will involve a lot of effort and a heavy financial budget. So, it is important to design a functional self-contained hardware in a loop simulation system on the ground for solving the verification of SINS/CNS integrated navigation systems. Aiming at solving the main program, a high precision, versatile and better real-time performance hybrid simulation system of SINS/CNS integrated navigation is presented. The system adopts the design of hardware-functional modularization and software-flow integration, and makes use of a trajectory generator to produce simulated nominal trajectory data which is a uniform reference to signal process, and employs unique time synchronization algorithms to collect actual errors data of inertial sub-system and celestial sub-system. By combining with nominal trajectory data, the data smoothing, all-sky autonomous star map identification and integrated navigation algorithm based on unscented Kalman filtering (UKF), this system can accomplish a lot of system performance testing. It has the features of flexibility and extensibility and can be used to effectively reduce the experimental expense and shorten the development time of integrated navigation system, which is significant for studying algorithm performance, system speciality, and practical application of integrated navigation system.     

Next generation space avionics: layered system implementation

Advances in electronics over the past decade have produced major improvements in the power and flexibility of computer systems. Unfortunately current avionics systems for space applications typically have not leveraged these COTS advantages. A decade ago, the state-of-the-art for avionics systems made a step change to the Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) used in the Boeing 777. This next generation avionics architecture is not based upon traditional Byzantine redundancy structures, but on a truth-based scheme where each element knows when an internal failure occurs and removes itself from the system. IMA utilizes a lock-step microprocessor design that communicates to a COTS Backplane for input/output, and to a Virtual Backplane/spl trade/ (a reliable high-speed serial bus) for intra-system communication. The system functions are implemented using a time and space partitioned operating system. The entire system provides the simplicity of a simplex system, implements the highest level of reliability providing complete flexibility to reconfigure both software applications and hardware interfaces, allows for rapid prototyping using low-cost COTS hardware, and is easily expandable beyond the initial point implementation. As the only 5/sup th/ generation avionics architecture, the concepts incorporated into Honeywell's IMA are ideally suited to be the backbone of the next generation Space Exploration Program avionics architectures.     

大型民机的非相似余度飞控计算机研究

 对中国自主研制的大型民机的余度飞行控制系统进行基础技术研究,设计了一套适合民机电传(FBW)系统的余度飞控计算机(FCC)新方案。提出了民机余度飞控计算机的2个设计准则：满足系统的可靠性指标和满足FO/FO/FO容错等级。然后根据这2个基本准则,给出了民机余度飞控计算机设计的7个建议,从而确定了民机余度飞行控制系统的余度数和余度结构：新型民机的余度飞行控制系统可采用非相似四余度,每个余度通道由两个支路构成比较监控结构,每个支路运行2套软件,保证软硬件系统的可靠性均衡。还确定了民机余度飞行控制系统的工作方式,使用Petri网分析了新方案的可靠性,并与B777和A320的余度飞控计算机进行了比较。     

ISE: intelligent synthesis environment for future aerospace systems

The Intelligent Synthesis Environment (ISE) being developed by NASA, UVA, and JPL for significantly enhancing the rapid creation of innovative affordable products and missions is described. ISE uses a synergistic combination of leading-edge technologies, including high-performance computing, high-capacity communications and networking, virtual product development, knowledge-based engineering, computational intelligence, human-computer interaction, and product information management. The environment will link scientists, design teams, manufacturers, suppliers, and consultants who participate in the mission synthesis, as well as in the creation and operation of the aerospace system. It will radically advance the process by which complex science missions are synthesized, and high-tech engineering systems are designed, manufactured, and operated. The evolution of engineering design is described along with the shortcomings of current product development techniques. The need for ISE to create high-science payoff missions and aerospace systems at affordable costs is discussed. The five major components critical to ISE and some of their sub-elements are described: namely, human-ISE interaction; infrastructure for distributed collaboration; rapid synthesis and simulation tools; intelligent life-cycle system integration; and cultural change in the creative process. Related government and industry programs are outlined and future impact of ISE on complex missions and aerospace systems is discussed.     

基于国产Linux平台的设备管理软件设计与实现

针对国产Linux操作系统不能提供高精度时间,也不能实时响应外部事件的问题,设计和实现了时统中断设备管理软件.该软件采用内核模块技术管理设备,利用设备的中断信号调度应用程序,并为应用程序提供高精度的统一时间.为提高外部中断事件的响应时间,时统中断设备管理程序采用tasklet机制管理中断,为不同的中断事件建立不同的管理队列,采用较小粒度的旋转锁以提高代码的并发性.时统中断设备管理程序能为应用程序提供μs级精度的精确时间,中断响应时间为10 μs级.经过长时间测试,系统运行稳定可靠,开销小,功能和性能都满足工程需求.     

火/飞/推综合控制系统及其仿真平台研究

介绍了火/飞/推综合控制系统原理及其各个子系统的控制律设计方法。阐述了通过飞行、推进、火控等系统的综合实现自动飞行、自动攻击的原理和算法。开发了综合控制仿真设计平台,结合有效的任务管理及控制律剪裁实现了灵活的系统运行配置,将设计平台和仿真平台集为一体,并将多个系统的综合、测试、仿真在一个平台中实现。数字仿真表明,综合控制系统明显提高了飞机综合化、自动化水平,也验证了仿真平台达到了设计要求。     

Got software? what managers and engineers need to know

As part of a JPL-wide software quality initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of developing, managing, and acquiring software, a team at JPL generated a detailed Software Training Plan for both managers and engineers. The team took the approach of treating the software training program as though it were a system development task and went through all the typical phases of system development including requirements, design, and implementation. During the requirements collection phase, the team conducted dozens of interviews and identified the specific skills needed. The skills fell into categories such as software management, software engineering, systems engineering, and other technical areas. However, an equally important finding was that several "soft" skills were deemed critical for the successful and timely management and implementation of software-intensive systems. This discusses JPL's approach and "lessons learned" from planning and delivering a software training program in an engineering and scientific environment.     

非相似余度飞控计算机

从容错的角度介绍了Boeing777和A320的数字飞行控制计算机系统。Boeing777和A320的飞控计算机都采用了非相似的余度技术,能容忍软件和硬件的共态故障,但在每个计算机的功能分配和整个飞控计算机系统的余度结构编排等方面体现了各自的特点。用广义随机Petri网描述了Boeing777余度结构和容错动态过程,并进行了系统的可靠性计算和容错度分析。针对中国"大型飞机"容错飞控系统的设计作了分析和建议。     

Rapid development of tightly-coupled GPS/INS systems

This paper addresses the question: “Why aren't tightly-coupled OPS/INS systems everywhere, on aircraft, ships and land vehicles?” Two barriers to the widespread use are cited. One is the high cost of the INS, and the other is the cost and complexity of tightly-coupled OPS/INS integration. One of those two barriers has recently been diminished drastically with the development of a standardized software package for tightly-coupled integration. In the past, only the largest corporations have been able to pay the initial development cost for tightly-coupled OPS/INS integration, usually with funding from a large defense program. Using the new software package, integration and van test can be accomplished in a matter of days, and this has been demonstrated with field trials. The package is intended primarily for small companies that otherwise would not be able to build tightly-coupled OPS/INS systems at all. What would have been a prohibitive 3- or 4-man year development effort is reduced to a few man weeks. To accomplish an integration, the system integrator has to find a way, through serial interfaces or by some other means, to get the INS measurements of acceleration (accumulated velocity change ΔV) and attitude rate (accumulated angle change Δ&thetas;) into a processor, along with the raw data of a GPS receiver. He also has to find a way to time tag the INS ΔV, Δ&thetas; with GPS time. The rest of tightly-coupled OPS/INS integration is predominately accomplished in the standardized software package. That leaves the cost of the INS as the only remaining barrier to the very widespread use of OPS/INS, and invites new development of low cost inertial sensors. The focus of this paper is on the software package, and how it achieves standardization and ease of use while retaining the flexibility to produce optimal results with a variety of INS and GPS receiver types     

综合控制系统研究及其仿真

研究了综合火力/飞行/推进控制系统原理及其各个子系统的控制律设计方法,研究通过飞行、推进、火控等系统的综合实现自动飞行、自动攻击的原理,并利用VC 和Open GL联合开发了综合控制仿真、设计平台,结合有效的任务管理及控制律剪裁,实现了灵活的系统运行配置,将设计平台和仿真平台集为一体,并将多个系统的综合、测试、仿真在一个平台上实现。最后通过数字仿真表明,综合控制系统明显地提高了飞机综合化、自动化水平,也验证仿真平台达到了设计要求。