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Mark PetersSeagull Technology, Inc.

August 24, 2004

Evolution of Multi-Modal Digital Avionics

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Briefing Outline

• Motivation• Flight Deck Evolution• Centralized Architectures• Disadvantages of Centralized Architectures• Advanced Architectures

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Motivation

• NASA Glenn Contract– Survey of Multi-Modal Digital Avionics

• Investigation Focus– Description of the multiple functions and integrated modes within

the MMDA design for today’s commercial and business class aircraft;

– Sequential or simultaneous operations, functions and modes; – Approach used for compliance with certification requirements; – Applicable AEEC, ARINC, ICAO, RTCA and other standards; – Use of open standards or company proprietary approaches for

avionics design; and – Summary of hardware and software architectures employed.

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Evolution of the Airliner Flight Deck

• 5 Stages of Evolution

• Electromechanical (non-FMS);• Electromechanical with FMS;• Hybrid / EFIS with FMS;• Fully digital, distributed, glass cockpit.• Centralized Computing Architecture.

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Electromechanical (no FMS)

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Electromechanical with FMS

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Hybrid / EFIS with FMS

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Fully digital, distributed, glass cockpit

Data Exchange UnitAir Data InertialReference Unit

FlightManagementComputer

A-429

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

. 0 +/-

IN ITREF RTE C LB CRZ D ES

D IRIN TC LE GS DE P

AR R HO LD P ROG EXEC

NIL IMIT

PREVPAG E

NEX TPAG E

A B C D E

F G H J

K L M N O

P Q R S T

U V W X Y

Z

FIX

I

D EL CLR/

MSG

FAIL

NavigationRadios

Autothrottle

DigitalAutopilot

EICAS

PFD EHSI EICAS

Engine Sensors

A-429

A-429

A-429

A-429

A-429

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Centralized Computing Architecture

Air Data InertialReference Unit

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

. 0 +/ -

INI TR EF RTE CLB C RZ DES

DI RINTC LEG S DEP

ARR H O LD PR OG E XEC

N IL I MIT

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K L M N O

P Q R S T

U V W X Y

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FI X

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FAIL

NavigationRadios

EICAS

PFD EHSI EICAS

Engine Sensors

Centralized Multi-ProcessorMulti-Process Computing System

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Centralized Architectures

• Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA)– Replaces many single purpose LRUs (Line Replaceable Units)– Consists of “Modular Cabinets” with multiple CPUs – ARINC Report 651: "Design Guidance for Integrated Modular

Avionics"

......Modular Cabinets

sensor LRUs

Other LRUs

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Software Partitioning

• One Operating System

• MultipleApplications

Software intensive

ApplicationSoftware

ofPartition 2

Logical Communications Exception Handling

OPERATING SYSTEM

Partitioning Scheduler Health Monitor

HARDWARE INTERFACE SYSTEM

ContextSwitching

Memory ManagementPhysical CommunicationsDevice Handlers

Interrupt Handling

BIT

HARDWAREClock

MMU

CommunicationsMedia

BITEInterrupt Controller

ApplicationSoftware

ofPartition 1

ApplicationSoftware

ofPartition 3

APEX

ApplicationSoftware

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sor

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ore

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ent

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eCOEX

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Boeing 777 Archictecture

ActuatorControl

Electronics

CabinTemperatureControllers

AudioManagement

Unit

Air SupplyCabin

PressureControllers

TirePressureMonitor

AirborneVibrationMonitor

WarningElectronics

Unit

BrakeTemperature

Monitor

FuelQuantity

Processor

Main GearSteering

GeneratorControl

Unit

AIMS Cabinet 2

AIMS Cabinet 1

PrimaryFlight

Computer

Flap/SlatElectronics

Unit

ControlDisplay

UnitCDUs

ADIRUAir DataInertial

ReferenceUnit

SAARUSecondaryAttitude/AirReference

Unit

AutopilotFlight

DirectorComputer

A629 DATA BUS

A629 DATA BUS

A629 DATA BUS

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Boeing 777 AIMS Cabinet

AIMS Cabinet

FlightManagement

Computer

AirplaneConditionMonitoring

System

PrimaryDisplaySystem

ThrustManagement

ComputingSystem

DataCommunication

Management

CentralMaintenanceComputing

System

FlightData

RecorderSystem

Illustrates the different processes on an AIMS cabinet

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Advanced Regional/Business Jet Architectures

• Honeywell Primus Epic– Large business jets– Cessna Sovereign– Based on Primus 1000-2000

series– New IMA architecture

• Collins Pro Line 21– Smaller business Jets– Turbo prop aircraft

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Primus Epic• Blends B-777 AIMS cabinet with

Primus 2000• Features

– Integrated Sensor Suite› Air Data Computer(ADC) › Inertial Reference System (IRS)› Attitude/Heading Reference

System(AHRS)– Integrated Radio and Audio System

› VOR, ADF, DME, ILS, VHF, Mode S– Human Factors Design

› Cursor Control Device (like B-777) – DEOS (digital engine operating system)

› A computer operating system for that handles the partitioning of different applications

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Pro Line 21

• Advanced Avionics System Architecture

• Integrated Processing Cabinet, IPC

Controls

Sensors

Radios

LEFT IPCProcessing

and Management

SensorMissionDisplayCommunicationMaintenance

MassStorage

RIGHT IPCProcessing

and Management

SensorMissionDisplayCommunicationMaintenance

Controls

Sensors

Radios

FlightDisplays

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Pro Line 21

• Each IPC– Display Management Module– Common computing module– 2 Local area network switches

Legacy429Legacy

429

NewSensorsNew

SensorsLocal Area

NetworkSwitch(A)

Local AreaNetwork

Switch(B)

PowerSupplyPower

Supply

EnvironmentalControl

CommonComputing

Module(CMM)

DisplayManagement

Modules(DMM)

Cross ChannelBus A

Cross ChannelBus B

Integrated Processing Cabinet

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Centralized Architecture Disadvantages

• Software development is more expensive than hardware– consumes 70-80% of the development budget for new avionics– Operating systems need to be complex– Software applications need to be designed to be hardware independent

• Hardware is becoming smaller, lighter, and less expensive• High speed Buses

– FDX (Full Duplex Ethernet) buses are 100 Mbps compared to ARINC 429 at 12-100 Kbps

– Reduces wiring– Makes distributed architecture faster and less costly

• Smart Peripherals– Do not need to rely on a centralized computing resource– Peripherals can plug directly into a network

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Smiths Proposed 7E7 Flight Deck

• Uses Centralized Computing Architecture in addition to smart peripherals

• Uses AFDX data bus to create Common Data Network• Remote data concentrators provide access for analog and legacy

429 devices

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Smiths Proposed 7E7 Architecture

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AFDX

GPM

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LRM

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RDC

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RDC

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LRU RDC

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RDC

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LRU

RDC

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RDC

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LRURDC

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RDC

ES

LRU

AnalogAnalog Analog Analog

Analog AnalogAnalogAnalog

CCR L CCR R

ES

LRU

ES

LRU

I/O Building Block I/O Building Block

I/O Building Block I/O Building Block

ComputingBuilding

Block

GPMComputing

BuildingBlock

GPMComputing

BuildingBlock

GPMComputing

BuildingBlock

GPMComputing

BuildingBlock

GPMComputing

BuildingBlock

GPMComputing

BuildingBlock

GPMComputing

BuildingBlock

NetworkBuilding

Block

NetworkBuilding

Block

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Flight Management Systems

• FMS Functionality as Defined in ARINC 702A-1– Flight Planning;– Lateral and Vertical Navigation;– Performance (Fuel burn and time of flight) Calculations Function;– Airline Operational Control (AOC) Function;– CNS/ATM Functions;– Airport Surface Guidelines;– Terrain and Obstacle Data; (Future features)– Navigation Display Interface;– CMU Interface;– Integrity Monitoring and Alerting.

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Flight Management Systems

Major example of digital avionicsbenefit

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Aircraft System Controllers

• Aircraft System Controllers– Automated

management of : Air, Fuel, Electric and Hydraulic Systems

– Eliminated the need for a flight engineer

– Dark cockpit Philosophy (No lights- normal operation)

– Manual backup possible

CFDIUCentralized

FaultDisplay

InterfaceUnit

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

. 0 + / -

INITREF RTE CLB CRZ DES

DIRI NTC L EGS DEP

ARRHO LD PROG

EXEC

NILIMIT

PREVPAG E

N EXTPAGE

A B C D E

F G H J

K L M N O

P Q R S T

U V W X Y

Z

F IX

I

DEL CLR/

MSG

FAIL

DEUDisplay

ElectronicsUnit

DEUDisplay

ElectronicsUnit

DEUDisplay

ElectronicsUnit

Aircraft SystemsAnalogDigital

Discrete

Aircraft Systems PanelsAircraft Systems

Controllers

Display Unit # 3 Display Unit # 4

Engineand

Alerting

SystemDisplay

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Consolidated Hardware

• Primus Epic digital remote mounted radio system– VOR, ADF, DME, ILS, VHF

Communication and Mode S Transponder

• Rockwell Collins NAV-4000– (VOR/ILS/MKR) and ADF

functionality in a single LRU.

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Extreme Consolidation Example

• Garmin GNS – 530 (Light General Aviation)

• WAAS-upgradeable IFR GPS• Lateral path guidance• Com Radio• VOR /LOC • Glide-slope • Color moving map • Jeppesen database

– airports, VORs, – NDBs, Intersections, – FSS, Approach, – DPs/STARs and SUA

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Cockpit Automation

• Flight Management Systems– Revolutionize the way airplanes are flown

• Management of Complex Systems– Aircraft System Controllers– Automation of Flight Engineer Role– Major feature of MD-11– Built in Maintenance Manuals and Fault Isolation Manuals

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Major Themes

• 2 Major Themes Emerged– Automation and Consolidation– Centralized Architectures

• Theme 1: Automation and Consolidation– Digital Avionics allows a level of automation previously not

possible– Design trend: consolidate functions and modes previously

performed by separate units into a single package

• Theme 2: Centralized Architecture– Digital avionics architecture has evolved away from distributed

digital systems – Multiple processes running on 1 computing device