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     

Digital Avionics?The Best is yet to Come!!!

This paper reviews some of the history and background of digital avionics and offers some tantalizing possibilities for the future. There are payoffs in many areas from digital avionics; however, the ultimate benefits are increased mission effectiveness and lower costs. Two major U. S. Air Force avionics programs designed to increase mission effectiveness are reviewed. Major barriers to the expanded use of digital avionics in civil transports as a means to lower operating costs are examined. The paper also examines lightning effects, architectures, optical components, displays, and voice interactive control which are current research areas that promise to yield significant advances for digital avionics systems. Finally, in a notice of optimism, it is concluded that the best is yet to come. As good as contemporary avionics are, we have only begun to visualize their ultimate potential.     

Synthesis and test issues for future aircraft inertial systemsintegration

A survey is presented of the potential benefits, possible pitfalls, and anticipated testing needs of integrating inertial guidance systems with systems dependent on the availability of the electromagnetic spectrum. Commonly referred to as integrated communications, navigation, and identification avionics (ICNIA), these systems of the future offer the combined potential for superb positioning and secure communications. The general characteristics (if current development trends continue) of the next-generation inertial navigation systems (INS) are briefly presented, followed by key modular and conceptual issues in the synthesis of this INS with systems dependent on the EM spectrum. Modular issues as considered here are those related to detailed implementation and resulting efficiency. Conceptual issues are those related to overall military strategy and resulting effectiveness. An example of modular systems integration is given, and a few preparations which can be anticipated for the field testing of integrated systems are presented, followed by concluding comments     

The Impact of Integrated Electronics on Aerospace Avionic Subsystems

Integrated electronics or microelectronics is one of today's major technical frontiers. Possibilities offered to the designer of avionics subsystems, for aerospace vehicles, by these techniques, are almost limitless, from the point of view of performance capabilities as well as reliability and maintainability. Application will change current engineering practices in avionics design. Some changes will be easy; in others, problems will appear. This paper discusses these changes, indicating potential gains to be expected as well as potential problem areas. The rise in the application of integrated electronics is expected to be high for the next 10 to 15 years. By 1980, integrated circuitry will have largely replaced the use of discrete components, and the rate-of-increase-of-application curves will level off.     

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.     

General aviation aircraft avionics: integration & system tests

The avionics of current-day aircraft is termed as modular integrated full glass cockpit. Unlike lots of dials and gauges, the pilot will interact with Multi-Function Displays (MYD). This means that the systems are coupled with multi-function displays, communication and navigation radios with control units, multi-mode interactive instruments for control and navigation, recording and fault management systems, airframes and health monitoring diagnostic capabilities. Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI) is an important measure of good avionics and cockpit layout, which implies the optimization of man-machine interface, enhancement of the economy, and safety of flight operations. This presents the avionics architecture of a 14-seat Light Transport Aircraft (LTA) for general aviation, which has multi-role commuter capabilities. LTA is a twin turbo-prop, multi-role aircraft, with air taxi and commuter services as its primary roles. The avionics is built on the digital communication mode for both command and control with current requirements of TCAS, digital Autopilot, and AMLCD multi-purpose glass displays. The LTA Avionics suite is grouped into six major groups based on functionality: Display System, Communication System, Navigation System, Recording System, Radar System, and Engine instruments and other cockpit displays. This paper also covers details about the extensive tests carried out to prove the avionics design in terms of functionality, inter-operability, interference, and compatibility. Various practical integration and flight-test issues, methodologies, and details of the scenarios is presented herein.     

STEP: a tool for estimating avionics life cycle costs

An overview is presented of how the US Air Force has had significant success in the estimation of life cycle costs (LCC) for avionics hardware and software using the Standardization Evaluation Program (STEP) model for estimating operating and support (O&S) costs. The capabilities of the existing STEP model as well as ongoing enhancements to provide a total LCC estimating methodology are described. In addition to the standard cost reports, STEP has the capability to assess the impact of reliability on life cycle cost. Another unique feature of the STEP model is the capability to assess the impact of retest OK (RTOK) on life cycle costs. The acquisition enhancement is being accomplished in three parts each of which will produce a distinct, usable product. The three products are an automated database, an analogy estimating capability, and a parametric estimating technique. Each is briefly discussed     

The Digital Information Facility

The acceptance and implementation of advanced digital avionics and flight control systems is dependent on the successful integration of these systems into the current and future National Airspace System (NAS). This paper describes a digital avionics systems research facility known as the Digital Information Facility (DIF) developed to provide researchers with the ground systems and air-to-ground interfaces needed to conduct and document experiments involving a mix of new technologies within the existing NAS infrastructure. The DIF supports four NAS functions: Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC), Flight Information Services (FIS), Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) navigation, and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). The DIF also includes the capability to record pilot and air traffic management interactions and document research participant observations. The DIF capability includes connectivity to flight test and simulated aircraft in a fully immersive Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) environment.     

Avionics for manned spacecraft

The author describes the avionic equipment for manned spacecraft, past, present, and future. He treats the four classic avionic systems-crew interface, flight control, navigation, and communication-and adds a fifth called subsystem management which refers to the monitoring and reconfiguration of equipment when faults occur. He starts by describing the functions of spacecraft avionics in general. He then discusses what he considers to have been the first manned spacecraft, the X-15. He continues with the early US and Soviet spacecraft (including their space stations), the US shuttle, and the European Spacelab. He concludes with projections for the avionics in future manned spacecraft, such as the US Space Station, a lunar base, and planetary explorers     

Today... tomorrow [of multidisciplinary systems of systems]

Some recent or near future examples of multidisciplinary systems of systems are illustrated. They include: upgraded Shuttle avionics; Airbus fly-by-wire; integrated modular electronics; electric automobiles; all-electric aircraft; and JointSTARS system     

航空电子系统综合显示处理技术研究

集中控制和综合显示技术在先进作战飞机航空电子系统中的应用日益广泛,综合显示处理机作为航空电子系统控制和管理的核心,其系统结构、可靠性及综合显示控制将是系统平台设计要解决的首要问题.本文介绍了一种机载综合显示处理机,根据航空电子系统功能需求及显示控制系统结构,进行了系统层次化结构设计,并对综合显示控制系统的系统显示控制、通信控制及模块化设计与实现技术进行了研究分析,最后给出合理的模块化设计与实现方案.航空电子系统综合试验、应用表明,综合显示处理机性能先进、可靠性高,并极大地改善和提高了航空电子系统的整体性能.     

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     

航空电子系统综合核心处理器仿真软件设计

在未来的航空电子体系结构中，综合核心处理器（Integrated Core Processor，ICP）将成为整个航空电子系统的核心。本文首先对ICP进行了理论分析，提出了ICP建模的重点，然后采用面向对象、模块化的方法进行了ICP仿真软件的设计，建立了ICP仿真系统模型。软件的仿真核心基于离散事件仿真方法，采用双层任务调度算法，并结合航空电子系统分区管理的特点，模拟ICP系统对任务的处理过程。最后进行了实例仿真，对仿真结果进行分析，验证了模型的正确性。     

Where next for airborne AESA technology?

Airborne radar has evolved from early systems where almost all radar characteristics were fixed to today's highly flexible, software-driven systems. The most recent advance has been the widespread adoption of active electronically scanned array (AESA) antennas, which has given the system designer unprecendented control of antenna characteristics. However, in common with most conventional radars, even these systems only operate within a limited frequency band. This argues that the next major advance will be the advent of wideband and multi-band systems, thus addressing the major remaining constraint facing the system designer and offering the capability for a step change in the functionality and performance of future systems.     

ARINC659总线在IMA架构中的适用性分析

综合模块化航电系统在飞机航电设备的研制中逐渐得到应用,实现综合化模块化航电的一个关键技术是系统内部总线的选择,通过论述综合模块化航电系统对系统内部总线的要求、介绍ARINC659总线的特点,分析ARINC659总线在综合模块化航电系统中的适用性,可以得出ARINC659总线能够满足综合模块化航电系统的要求,目前ARINC659总线已经开始广泛应用于综合模块化航电系统中.     

Design by extrapolation: an evaluation of fault tolerant avionics

Over the past 30 years, safety-critical avionics systems such as Fly-By-Wire (FBW) flight controls, full-authority digital engine controls, and other systems have been introduced on many commercial and military airplanes and spacecraft. Early FBW systems, such as on the F-16 and Airbus A320, were considered revolutionary and introduced with extreme caution. These early systems and their successors all make use of redundant and fault-tolerant avionics to provide the required dependability and safety, but have used significantly different architectures. This paper examines the different levels of criticality and fault tolerance required by different types of avionics systems, establishes architectural categories of fault-tolerant architectures, and identifies the discriminating features of the varied approaches. Examples of discriminators include the level of redundancy, methods of engaging backup systems, protection from software errors, and the use of dissimilar hardware and software. The strengths and weaknesses of the approaches will be identified. The paper concludes with some speculation on trends for future systems based on this evaluation of previous systems     

Avionics Development and Integration System Methods

This paper describes a set of life cycle methods that were developed in 1980 and 1981 and used in the later phases of the 757/767 airplane programs. They have been used as a framework to establish and guide the introduction of a wide use of similar methods for the future avionics of Boeing's next airplane, the 7J7. The methods were designed to improve communication of the system's requirements, architecture and implementation to a wide group of interested parties ? not just the development engineers but also the users, maintainers, customers and support organizations. A major aspect of these methods is that they were designed to be used for systems in general not just software systems. This paper will describe the background and goals and objectives leading to the need for systems engineering methods, describe the methods and give an example of their use. It will conclude with remarks on steps taken to introduce methods of this type on a wide scale to support the next Boeing airplane.     

The future of transportation systems

The emergence of a world-wide duopoly in the design and production of large commercial aircraft at the end of the 1990s and cutbacks in aerospace and defense has put significant pressure on the number of avionics manufacturers. A similar duopoly exists very nearly for US military aircraft. In 1999, mergers created two large avionic suppliers in the USA. European avionics suppliers have also been consolidating. At worst, these larger entities will have a negative effect upon US aerospace employment, and further discourage the best and brightest engineers. Commuter and general aviation, where competition still reigns (more than ten manufacturers exist in 2000), may lead the avionics charge into the future     

1553 emulation over ATM (asynchronous transfer mode)-a hybridavionics communications architecture

The issue of meeting the higher communications requirements of future aircraft avionics systems in an incremental manner is addressed. A communications architecture is proposed which is based upon a switched network technology from the telecommunications area asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). However, the major step of migrating all existing avionics equipment into an ATM compliant form is avoided by the process of “emulating” a current avionics data bus such as MIL-STD-1553B over an ATM network. This allows current 1553 subsystems to co-exist with ATM compliant equipment on a single physical ATM network