Weapons System Open Architecture - a bridge between "embedded" and "off-board"

A demonstration program is described: Weapons System Open Architecture (WSOA) - funded jointly by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), DARPA, and the Open Systems Joint Task Force (OSJTF). WSOA provides an open systems "bridge" between legacy embedded mission systems and off-board C3I sources and systems. This "bridge" is used to support Internet-like connectivity between command and attack nodes. The foundation of this bridge is the creation of a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) layer over Link 16. In addition, application of quality of service techniques and resource management technologies will ensure the timely exchange and processing of mission critical information by both attack and command nodes in even the most time-sensitive situations.     

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     

通用航空电子体系系统的应用研究

开放式、综合化是目前航空电子系统的重要特征和发展方向。通用航空电子体系系统(CAAS:Common Avionics Architecture System)的开放式架构使其得到广泛应用。介绍了CAAS的架构、硬件、软件结构,以及在我国直升机上的应用研究。     

Tailoring MIL-STD-461B for Naval Avionics Applications

Naval aviation electronics (Avionics) systems are specified and procured using MIL-STD-461 to set the fundamental EMI requirements. MIL-STD-461 permits and encourages ``tailoring' the EMI specifications for each equipment to the anticipated usage. In this paper, the Naval Avionics Center Staff Engineer for Electromagnetic Effects presents a typical tailored EMI specification as used within the Naval Air Systems Command to procure carrier based aircraft avionics. Included are the rationale for and the explanation of each modification and an estimate of the electromagnetic environment found aboard the US Navy Aircraft carriers.     

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     

Using LabVIEW to provide rapid prototyping environment for theteaching of avionics systems

This paper describes a simulation environment which has been used to teach the fundamental principles of Avionics Systems to students of Systems Engineering at Loughborough University of Technology. A versatile model of a Radar System is detailed as an example and its attributes from a teaching perspective are highlighted. The generic nature of the environment is also described, as is its position within the systems life cycle     

Open systems architecture for integrated RF electronics

The Integrated Sensor System (ISS) program is defining an Open System Architecture (OSA) for Radio Frequency (RF) electronics, which represent the largest portion of an advanced aircraft's avionics flyaway cost. An integrated architecture is used to reduce costs in a number of ways, including time-sharing, centralization of resources, and reduction of the number of unique module types. The OSA approach extends these cost reductions by simplifying technology insertion, using well-understood standards, and increasing use of commercial hardware and software. This paper describes interim results. The work was funded by the Open Systems Joint Task Force (OS-JTF)     

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     

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     

NEVADA-PAMELA-VICTORIA: Towards the definition of new aircraft electronic systems

Dramatic changes are occurring in the aeronautical electronics field. Demands for new services and capabilities are increasing, whilst progress in technology is making them affordable. In addition, the Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) and Electronics (IME) concepts have been shown to be cost-efficient. Europe is preparing its next generation systems through a joint effort distributed across several successive projects within the EC Framework Programmes.     

基于AADL的航空电子系统安全性分析

AADL是一种描述嵌入式实时系统的软硬件结构、安全性、可靠性等关键性能特性的重要手段,目前已广泛应用于基于ARINC653的综合化航电系统。安全性作为综合化航电系统的关键性能之一,已成为需要解决的重要问题。详细阐述了基于AADL的航空电子系统安全性分析的原理,并给出了一种可行的航空电子系统安全性分析的设计和实现方案,为航空电子系统安全性的设计提供了一种验证方法。     

EMERTA - Emerging Technologies and Opportunities for ATM

EMERTA is concerned with the implications of two emerging technologies and associated concepts for aeronautical use, Next Generation Satellite Systems (NGSS) and Airborne Separation Assurance Systems (ASAS). Concerned with first steps in the use of both technologies, EMERTA establishes the feasibility of using NGSS services ‘as they are’ to meet Air Traffic Service and Airline Operation Centre requirements and assesses the practical feasibility of the early introduction of ASAS applications in Europe.     

GPS III system operations concepts

Over the past three years, the Lockheed Martin GPS III team has analyzed potential operational concepts for the Air Force. The completed tasks support the government's objective of a "realizable and operationally feasible" US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) concept of operations. This paper provides an overview of the operational improvements for the command and control of satellites, the provision of safe, precise navigation and timing services to end-users. The GPS III system changes existing operational paradigms. Improved operator capabilities are enabled by a new high-speed uplink/downlink and crosslink communication architecture. Continuous connectivity allows operators a "contact one satellite - contact all satellites" concept enabling near-real-time navigation updates and telemetry monitoring. This paper describes potential improvements for the following operations: constellation monitoring, command and control, navigation upload monitoring, global service monitoring, global service prediction, civilian navigation (CNAV) messaging, and anomaly detection and resolution. This paper also describes future operational improvements as GPS applications continue to proliferate and the need for an improved infrastructure to effectively manage all the systems that affect GPS service grows     

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     

An overview of Allied-Signal's avionics development in the CIS

AlliedSignal Commercial Avionics Systems (ASCAS) and its partners have established the following business objectives: short term (forward-fit and retrofit with off-the-shelf products; co-development of integrated systems); mid term (co-production of avionics products in the CIS); long term (become an integrated element of CIS aerospace industry in partnership with local firms and to maintain the necessary focus to achieve these goals). ASCAS has formed a strategic business enterprise which is dedicated to developing the avionics market within the CIS. ASCAS was fortunate to find a joint venture partner who possesses skills that complement its present core competencies. The advantage of this business arrangement is that, while expanding their experience and expertise in the area of systems integration, they can directly benefit from the expertise and capabilities of indigenous airframe and equipment manufacturers (customer knowledge, simulation and integration experience, capable/skilled manpower)     

航空电子综合化系统通信子网设计研究

传统的航空电子综合化系统(IAS)中,通信子网的自治性很差,其管理控制是由应用宿主机来进行的,最终成了限制IAS性能的瓶颈。针对上述问题,研究设计了一个基于MIL-STD-1553B总线的IAS通信子网—1553BCN。1553BCN实现了通信子网的自治管理和容错(降级)运行,并向宿主机提供具有“恰一次”(exactlyonce)可靠性语义的应答式可变长消息通信服务。实践表明,1553BCN能较好地满足IAS的通信要求,可用以构造新一代IAS。     

The J-MASS Marketplace: a new way for DoD to do business

It is current DoD policy to use commercial off-the-shelf software whenever it meets DoD requirements. The application of this policy to modeling and simulation has resulted in the concept of “The Joint Modeling and Simulation System (J-MASS) Marketplace.” J-MASS is designed as an Open Systems Architecture with the capability for the Simulation Support Environment (SSE) to be expanded by the addition of site specific software. In the “J-MASS Marketplace” industry will build commercial tools to work with J-MASS and individual organizations will license what they need for their particular site. The J-MASS SSE is a framework or backplane into which everything else plugs. A J-MASS product release would have the core capabilities, but the unique needs of various organizations would be satisfied by industry. This paper addresses how the J-MASS Marketplace could work and how compliance can be defined. It will outline opportunities for industry in both building software for the Marketplace and in defining the Marketplace concept     

基于时间触发架构的系统通信设计应用研究

本文详细介绍了基于时间触发架构的应用系统通信模型设计方法：结合某型飞机综合数据管理系统（IDMS）应用功能的通信需求,利用“PDevelopmentCluster系统设计工具,构建基于时间触发协议（TTP）的IDMS通信系统仿真模型。TTP精确的全局时钟同步可以为系统提供精确的时钟和单元之间的精确同步,协议的容错机制为...     

A maintenance-free lead acid battery for inertial navigationsystems aircraft

Historically, aircraft inertial navigation system (INS) batteries have utilized vented nickel-cadmium batteries for emergency DC power. The United States Navy and Air Force developed separate systems during their respective INS developments. The Navy contracted with Litton industries to produce the LTN-72 and Air Force contracted with Delco to produce the Carousel IV INS for the large cargo and specialty aircraft applications, over the years, a total of eight different battery national stock numbers (NSNs) have entered the stock system along with 75 battery spare part NSNs. The standard hardware acquisition and reliability program is working with the Aircraft Battery Group at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, Naval Air Systems Command (AIR 536), Wright Laboratory, Battelle Memorial Institute, and Concorde Battery Corporation to produce a standard INS battery. This paper discusses the approach taken to determine whether the battery should be replaced and to select the replacement chemistry. The paper also discusses the battery requirements, aircraft that the battery is compatible with, and status of Navy flight evaluation. Projected savings in avoided maintenance in Navy and Air Force INS systems is projected to be $14.7 million per year with a manpower reduction of 153 maintenance personnel. The new INS battery is compatible with commercially sold INS systems which represents 66% of the systems sold