Open systems architecture solutions for military avionics testing

Raytheon makes extensive use of open systems architecture methods in developing special test equipment (STE) for testing military avionics equipment. Such use has resulted in significant cost and schedule savings in the development of production test equipment for radar and infrared systems. With open systems architectures, a test system can be assembled using COTS products. This brings economies of scale to test equipment, which is normally built in very low quantities. Therefore, the potential cost savings due to COTS usage is proportionately greater in STE than in the higher volume avionics systems that are tested. A second major benefit of using COTS products is that test system development schedule cycle time is greatly reduced. This paper describes the application of Open Systems Architectures (OSA) to avionics testing. The following major architectures are surveyed: VME bus, VXI bus, IEEE GPIB, IEEE 1149.1 JTAG test bus, 1553 Military Bus, Fibre Channel, and COTS Test Applications Software. We describe how the benefits of OSA have been extended at Raytheon into achieving vertical test commonalities. The flexibility of OSA can be exploited to provide an overall optimum test solution, taking all levels of test into account. For example, test systems can be tailored with COTS products to provide integrated methods for avionics tests at the module, unit, and system levels. Test systems can be configured to maximize the reuse of COTS hardware over all test levels. Test software can also be programmed to optimize such reuse over levels of test. Additional test verticality synergies derived from such OSA usage are described, including: test false alarm avoidance; test cones of tolerance optimization; and efficient test of field returns     

IMA aircraft improvements

Integrated modular avionics (IMA) is being suggested as the means by which new capabilities can be deployed on aircraft at an affordable cost. RTCA SC-200 is presently considering the guidance document for IMA. All of the functionality that IMA offers can be achieved through a conventional federated architecture; however, the cost, size, and weight penalties of the federated solution make it economically infeasible. IMA is seen as the way forward. It is assuming greater importance as the aircraft industry transitions to commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology with its attendant obsolescence and reliability concerns. IMA may be one of the most cost-effective ways by which rapid obsolescence can be managed. Ironically, this move to COTS is also the greatest threat to IMA systems. IMA achieves reductions in size, cost, and weight by providing a set of flexible hardware and software resources that can be statically or dynamically mapped to a set of required avionics functional capabilities. This introduces a number of new complexities such as mixed criticalities and reconfiguration. We do not address these issues herein. Rather we discuss the mechanisms by which electronics degrades and how a classical safety assessment of a reconfigurable IMA system can be ified by this degradation. We argue that, with the advent of COTS, it is no longer justifiable to consider that electronics has an effectively constant failure rate. Physical considerations suggest that electronics failure occurs when environmental and operating stress causes the accumulation of damage to the underlying structures to exceed the threshold strength of the constituent materials and interfaces. Finally, we suggest how finite-life electronics effects may be mitigated.     

某民用飞机显示系统仿真器的设计与实现

航电系统仿真平台以其灵活方便和低成本特点,支持综合航电系统的预先研究、方案设计、详细设计、系统综合,成为综合航电系统研制过程中不可或缺的设计手段。给出了IMA系统仿真平台显示系统仿真器的详细的设计和实现方案,首先介绍了IMA系统仿真平台的组成,接着介绍了显示系统仿真器的组成架构,并对显示系统仿真器的硬件配置、航电网络配置、人机交互界面和逻辑处理进行了详细的介绍。最后经过IMA系统仿真试验样件验收测试程序的测试,验证了显示系统仿真器满足验收测试程序的各项功能和性能要求,满足了该型号显示系统仿真器的试验要求。     

Expert System Applications to the Cockpit of the '90s

There is a strong requirement for a new generation of avionics systems with a more integrated hardware and software structure. This integrated avionics system will use significant increases in computer automation with more innovative signal processing, sensor fusion and expert system software to reduce pilot workload, while improving total system performance and reliability. Expert system software packages will be implemented within the core architecture of these next generation integrated avionics systems to assist the pilot. The expert systems will consider the pertinent information available from the ``sensor' subsystems to assess the current situation. The expert systems then consult their knowledge base and rule base software structures to determine alternative reactions to the perceived situation. Then pending upon the critical of the function, situation and reaction, the expert system could either execute the most favorable reaction or display the suggested alternative courses of action to the pilot. This paper addresses the requirement, the enabling technologies and the potential structure of this next generation of avionics. It concludes with two examples of the potential of future avionics expert systems. The two examples are 1) A Navigation and Route Planning Expert and 2) A Threat Assessment and Threat Reaction Expert. Significant things are happening in technology at an accelerating pace that enable the development of this new generation of avionics.     

Performability analysis of avionics system with multilayer HM/FM using stochastic Petri nets

The integrated modular avionics (IMA) architecture is an open standard in avionics industry, in which the number of functionalities implemented by software is greater than ever before. In the IMA architecture, the reliability of the avionics system is highly affected by the software applications. In order to enhance the fault tolerance feature with regard to software application failures, many industrial standards propose a layered health monitoring/fault management (HM/FM) scheme to periodically check the health status of software application processes and recover the malfunctioning software process whenever an error is located. In this paper, we make an analytical study of the HM/FM system for avionics application software. We use the stochastic Petri nets (SPN) to build a formal model of each component and present a method to combine the components together to form a complete system model with respect to three interlayer query strategies. We further investigate the effectiveness of these strategies in an illustrative system.     

Technology roll lessons learned on embedded avionics platforms

Open system architectures based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) building block components offer the ability to leverage the latest technology into fielded products while minimizing the impact to the operational flight software, typically the most costly component of an avionics development or upgrade. Our team has developed a layered hardware and software approach based on industry standard hardware and software interfaces to abstract the application (operational) software developers from the underlying technology rolls to the hardware and operating system software that naturally occur as part of the commercial marketplace, A technology roll is defined as the replacement of a current product with a subsequent generation of a product from the same product family. In this article, we describe the components and the layered architecture of our open system architecture approach. We discuss specific system, hardware, and software technology insertions that incorporate the latest available technology and how these changes have been abstracted from the application software. The article concludes by discussing lessons Learned from the use of these common components and corresponding technology rolls across various platforms     

A cost effective critical space systems design approach

NASA-ISC requires avionics platforms capable of serving a wide range of applications in a cost-effective manner. In part, making the avionics platform cost effective means adhering to open standards and supporting the integration of COTS products with custom products. Inherently, operation in space requires low power, mass, and volume while retaining high performance, reconfigurability, scalability, and upgradability. The Universal Mini-Controller (UMC) project is based on a modified PC/104-Plus architecture while maintaining full compatibility with standard COTS PC/104 products. The architecture consists of a library of stackable building block modules, which can be mixed and matched to meet a specific application. A set of NASA developed core building blocks, (e.g. processor card, analog input/output card, high level analog card, and a Mil-Std-1553 card) were constructed to meet critical functions and unique interfaces     

民用飞机综合模块化航电系统分区和资源分配的研究

对比航电传统系统架构,分析了综合模块化航电系统(Integrated Modular Avionics,简称IMA)架构的优点;针对IMA系统功能的高集成度带来的资源分配难度和安全性要求,提出了IMA系统分区和资源分配策略,并给出了具体方法,对民用飞机IMA系统设计具有一定的指导意义和实用价值。     

Ultra-high performance, low-power, data parallel radar implementations

Radar involves similar operations applied to large amounts of data. It is thus well suited to data parallel (SEMD) hardware. In the past, large data-parallel machines have been applied to radar with limited success. This has been due to such reasons as programming issues, cost, and the hardware being too big for most embedded applications. Most SBVED machines went away a decade ago. There is now a new generation of SIMD COTS technology with powerful processing elements (PEs) and floating-point hardware. WorldScape is applying these chips to radar processing, and has demonstrated significantly more performance with much lower power dissipation (GFLOPS/Watt). These implementations provide attractive alternatives to traditional FPGA and DSP solutions. Lockheed-Martin has provided benchmark validation testing and support for these implementations. The current implementation is based on a 64 PE, 25 GFLOP CS-301 chip supplied by ClearSpeed Technology PLC. WorldScape has demonstrated FFT, Pulse Compression, a form of QR factorization, and other applications on this generation of hardware using a mix of C-level programming and optimized assembly. The next generation chip is compatible, but also has several improvements that will significantly enhance I/O performance as well as raw GFLOP throughput. An updated demonstration and discussion of a scalable processing platform for embedded radar processing which significantly improves I/O performance and provides a roadmap to government-qualified hardware for technology insertion. Architectures, data parallel coding approaches, additional functionality of the scalable processing platform, and relevance to embedded defense radar applications will be discussed.     

高速发展的新一代综合模块化航空电子系统

着重探讨和分析了国外最新一代军、民用飞机上使用的航空电子系统体系结构——综合模块化航空电子系统(IMA)。在讨论IMA概念和特征的基础上,重点分析了IMA体系结构实现过程中的关键技术。最后,分析和总结了未来军、民用航空电子系统的发展趋势。     

综合模块化航空电子系统节能分层调度的设计(英文)

近年来,综合模块化航空电子(Integrated Modular Avionics,IMA)构架逐渐流行,并通过引入资源分区的概念取代了传统的联合式系统构架。研究了IMA构架下分层调度的设计问题。调度模型通过强时间分区,使多个强实时应用方便地集成在一个单处理器平台。推导出分区周期、分区系数以及可调度性在实时条件下的数学关系,并提出了分区参数的优化算法。考虑具有任意时限的实时任务模型,提高了算法的通用性。在分层调度的基础上,通过有效利用松弛时间,提出一种能量优化方法,进一步减少了飞行器上嵌入式系统的能耗。实验结果表明,本文提出的系统设计方法在保证硬实时需求的基础上,有效的降低能耗达 14%。     

基于COTS的航空电子软件开发

介绍了商用货架产品(COTS)在航空电子软件开发中应用的优点和缺点,和基于COTS的航电软件构架;并给出了一个开发过程和部分开发工具。最后通过一个实例说明基于COTS的航电软件开发是实际可行的。     

Open systems avionics network to replace MIL-STD-1553

This paper is a proposal for a future method of avionics data communication. The need for this proposal results from the shortcomings in the current avionics architecture, video distribution network, and in the MIL-STD-1553 data communication system. The separately wired video and data communication systems can be combined to save weight, which is especially critical for rotorcraft. Aircraft, once fielded, have limited capacity for modification and improvement due to fixed computer throughput and processing performance, network bandwidth, and space available in the avionics equipment bays. The changes proposed by this paper are to be made in conjunction with the replacement of the redundant computer boxes with open system avionics functions on industry standard circuit cards. This open architecture approach was developed over the last ten years and is now being implemented in many aircraft applications including the F-22 and the RAH-66 programs. The V-22 rotorcraft, which although just entering production, is being modified for joint service customers where modern computer performance and expanded data network bandwidth is needed. The changes of this proposal will fill this need, reduce the weight of upcoming production models, and provide growth or spare capability so that additional video and data components can be added with minimal effect on existing components. This paper examines the current V-22 avionics video and data communication hardware and wiring and propose a new implementation of open system architecture standards with integrated digital video and data communication based on ANSI standard copper fibre channel     

航空电子系统中应用多核处理器的挑战分析

作为嵌入式计算的一种,航空电子系统中的处理器具有强实时性、高确定性、高安全性的特征。因此,同其他嵌入式系统相比,在航空电子系统中应用多核处理器面临更多的挑战。针对多核处理器基本的软硬件架构,对挑战产生的原因进行了简要的分析,指出了在航空电子系统中应用多核处理器需要解决的问题。     

综合模块化航空电子系统软件体系结构综述

作为降低系统生命周期费用（LCC）、控制软件复杂性、提高软件复用程度的重要手段之一,软件体系结构已成为航空计算领域的一个主要研究方向。阐述了综合模块化航空电子（IMA）的理念,分析了推动IMA产生和发展的主要因素。总结了ARINC 653,ASAAC,GOA以及F-22通用综合处理机（CIP）上的软件体系结构研究成果,并讨论了IMA软件体系结构需要解决的若干问题及其发展趋势。在此基础上,对中国综合航电软件体系结构研究提出了一些见解。     

基于虚拟无线电技术的航天测控系统设计

为了适应未来航天测控系统的发展趋势,提出了VRTCS（虚拟无线电测控系统）硬件平台和软件系统的基本结构。以通用高性能计算机作为系统的硬件平台,采用分层结构模型设计系统体系结构,使得航天测控系统具备更好的通用性和灵活性。阐述了VRTCS的基本概念和总体结构,对系统各组成部分的功能、组成和用途进行了分析;对测控系统中构件进行分层设计,开发原型软件实现测控系统的核心应用;以统一载波测控系统为模型,通过测控信号接入试验,验证了VRTCS的可行性。     

Open systems-a process for achieving affordability [in avionicssystems]

A major factor that will drive the definition and design of future avionics systems is affordability. Affordability is being addressed on numerous fronts such as hardware re-use, software re-use, COTS leveraging, and reduced cycle times. Each of these thrusts provide potential cost savings along with unique challenges. What is needed is a process that integrates these initiatives while ensuring the overall system objectives are achieved. An Open Systems-based process is key to integrating these initiatives and balancing affordability and system performance goals. Although Open Systems are being widely recognized as a key to affordability, most interpret Open Systems as a set of system attributes that need to be achieved. There are numerous claims of vendors saying they have an Open Systems architecture or how their system will evolve to an Open Systems architecture. This emphasis is not on increasing affordability but on attaching a politically correct label to their product. In this paper, we focus on the Open Systems process as the key to affordability. An Open Systems process is based on Open Systems principles. This paper discusses the Open Systems principles and process in detail and shows how this process integrates numerous affordability initiatives     

COTS based open systems for military avionics

The DoD has many acquisition programs that are aggressively implementing open architecture principles in new avionics systems. Since “open” is an unclear attribute, projects eventually give in to a point solution that has no flexibility to cost effectively keep up with rapid changes in technology. The Open Systems Development Initiative (OSDI) project utilized COTS products to study the feasibility of building an open system that has plug-and-play capabilities. Lessons learned from the AV-8B Open Systems Core Avionics Requirements (OSCAR) and the F/A-18 Advanced Mission Computers and Displays (AMC&D) programs clearly indicated that understanding the underlying interfaces is crucial to keeping the system as open as possible to take advantage of the rapid changes in technology. A matrix of Key Open Standard Interfaces (KOSI), called the KOSI matrix, was developed and an applicable standard was identified for each interface. A list of non-conforming interfaces was also identified and the use of extensions or wrappers was investigated in an attempt to comply with standards. Standardization, rather than optimization of such interfaces, was considered more beneficial. It became evident that, with the exception of ruggedization, there is no difference in the use of COTS products for either commercial or military systems. Performing a KOSI analysis helped identify the key interfaces and standards, thus enabling the OSDI system to be scalable, portable and interoperable. A good KOSI matrix provides a vehicle for clear communication and helps systems integration and technology insertion to be less painful than what it is today. It helps reduce time-to-market and provides guidance to systems engineers and vendors to keep the system open     

Open Systems: a process for achieving affordability

A major factor that will drive the definition and design of future avionics systems is affordability. Affordability is being addressed on numerous fronts such as hardware re-use, software re-use, COTS leveraging, and reduced cycle times. Each of these thrusts provide potential cost saving along with unique challenges. What is needed is a process that integrates these initiatives while ensuring the overall system objectives are achieved. An Open Systems-based process is key to integrating these initiatives and balancing affordability and system performance goals. Although Open Systems are being widely recognized as a key to affordability, most interpret Open Systems as a set of system attributes that need to be achieved. There are numerous claims of vendors saying they have an Open Systems architecture; or how their system will evolve to an Open Systems architecture. This emphasis is not on increasing affordability, but on attaching a politically-correct label to their product. In this paper, we focus on the Open Systems process as the key to affordability. An Open Systems process is based on Open Systems principles. This paper discusses the Open Systems principles and process in detail and shows how this process integrates numerous affordability initiatives