AAE 3156

INTRO TO AVIONICS AND

NAVIGATION SYSTEMS

[Avionics]

Kamlesh Kumar
Mentor of Change, ATL, NITI Aayog, Govt of India
Director, iSpAgro Robotics Pvt Ltd
Coordinator, Centre of Excellence in Avionics and Navigation, MAHE
Assistant Professor Senior Scale, Dept. of Aeronautical, MIT
Email: [email protected];
Mobile: +91-7348852747/7667100873
Telephone: 082029 25483/488/489/484
INTRODUCTION
•Avionics

•System Engineering

•System Engineering Approach in the development

of Avionics Systems

•Assignment/Case study
Avionics : Aviation Electronics

Definition: Contains all sub-domains relating to avionics, cockpit and Air traffic
management (ATM)-related aircraft systems. All electronic and
electromechanical systems and subsystems (hardware and software) installed
in an aircraft or attached to it

Sub- 1. Cockpit Automation: Cockpit, Cockpit systems, Avionics, GPWS,

domains: Cockpit displays, EFIS, Glass cockpit, CMU, ATSU, Communications
display, enhanced vision systems, CPDLC display, ACARS interface.
Comments: on board avionics systems, pilot HMI, validation of sub
systems. Includes GPWS, EFIS, enhanced vision systems, communications
displays, radios and airborne radar displays.

2. Airborne Separation Assurance System: Airborne Situation Awareness

system, Airborne Separation Assurance System, ASAS Human Machine
Interface / procedures, CDTI. Comments: Airborne situation awareness
systems, Airborne Separation Assurance Systems, automation of these
systems, validation of subsystems. ASAS Human Machine Interface /
procedures. Systems for autonomous aircraft operations and to support
delegation of separation responsibility.
Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
https://static.airbus.com/fileadmin/backstage/Asset_management/A320-cockpit/index.html
Avionics : Aviation Electronics

Definition: Contains all sub-domains relating to avionics, cockpit and ATM-related aircraft
systems. All electronic and electromechanical systems and subsystems
(hardware and software) installed in an aircraft or attached to it

Sub- 3. ACAS Automation and Use: TCAS, ACAS, Airborne Collision Avoidance
domains: System. Comments: Airborne collision avoidance systems, automation of these
systems, validation of subsystems. Includes studies of the operation and use of
TCAS, ACAS and their impact on the ATM system.

4. Flight Management Systems: Flight Management Systems, FMS, 3D FMS,

4D FMS, Flight Database. Comments: flight management databases, safety and
validation of FMS in relation to the ATM environment.

ACAS-Airborne Collision Avoidance System

TCAS-Traffic Collision Avoidance System

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Cockpit Systems, Visualisation & Display Systems

Definition: Aircraft cockpits must evolve, to provide aircrew with access to accurate
and timely information through highly capable display systems.

Sub- 1. Cockpit indicators and gauges.

domains: 2. Cockpit switch panels.
3. Cockpit display panels. CRT, flat panel, touch screen, head-up displays.
4. Display issues. readability in different lighting situations, resolution,
contrast, viewing angle.
5. Reduction in weight, power and cooling requirements.
6. Increased reliability.
7. Integration with flight management and navigation systems (EFIS,
ACARS, ATSU).
8. Glass cockpit.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
https://www.360cities.net/image/4650
Navigation / Flight Management / Autoland

Definition Navigation and flight management systems are required to optimise the efficiency
: of operating aircraft in the ever more densely populated airspace. The objective is
for full and permanent automatic approach and landing in all weathers.

Sub- 1. RF-based aircraft navigation and guidance systems (e.g. VOR, ILS, MLS,
domains: LORAN, TACAN, ADF, DME, NDB).
2. Satellite-based aircraft navigation and guidance systems (e.g. GPS, differential
GPS, GLONASS).
3. Inertial navigation systems.
4. Digital altitude control systems (radar altimeters etc).
5. System interfaces, data flows and analysis. 3D FMS< 4D FMS, flight database.
6. Inspection, adjustment, performance testing, malfunction analysis and
corrective.
7. Automatic landing systems. autoland, low visibility approach and landing,
precision approach, tactical decision tools.
8. Enhanced vision systems, pattern recognition and data fusion.
9. Synthetic 3D vision with terrain and obstacle information and visualisation,
automatic warnings to crew if flight path intersects with terrain.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
https://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/e/adm/system/satellit/air/
Warning System

Definition: To reduce the risk of aircraft colliding with each other, or by undertaking
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), aircraft are fitted with an array of
collision warning systems. Note that human aspects of responses to warning
system alerts are dealt with in the "Human Factors" research and technology
area, and fire protection warning systems are dealt with later in this Area.

Sub- 1. Sensors. ground collision avoidance (GPWS).

domains: 2. Sensors. airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS).
3. Alerting systems (audio, warning lights, displays. map view, profile view,
3D perspective view).
4. Integrated terrain awareness and warning systems.
5. Turbulence warning. windshear, wake vortex, clear air turbulence.
6. Ground and airborne detection of meteorological icing conditions.
7. Integration of airborne detection with atmospheric data received from
outside the aircraft for real-time crew information and for transmission to
other users.
8. False alarm reduction.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
https://www.aircraftsystemstech.com/2017/05/warnings-and-cautions.html
Electronics & Microelectronics for on-board systems

Definition: Research and technology addressing the development, integration,

validation and use of new electronic and micro-electronic systems on
aircraft, including the facilitation of the More Electric Aircraft concept.

Sub- 1. New materials.

domains: 2. Power, weight and cooling requirement reductions.
3. Reliability increase.
4. Component and system interfaces and architectures.
5. MEMS.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Sensors integration

Definition: Fusing of data from sensors to present a single, unambiguous picture

to the system users.

Sub- 1. Integrated modular avionics.

domains: 2. System interfaces and architectures.
3. Algorithm development, testing and validation.
4. Application to navigation, aircraft status and flight data systems.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Flight Data/Flight Recording

Definition: Commercial aircraft are required to be fitted with devices that record flight
information that can be used to help reconstruct the events leading up to an
aircraft incident or accident.

Sub- 1. Cockpit voice recorder (CVR). recording technology.

domains: 2. CVR sensors (microphones).
3. CVR. reconstruction tools and algorithms.
4. Flight data recorder (FDR). recording technology.
5. FDR. sensors.
6. FDR. reconstruction tools and algorithms.
7. Passenger cabin recording equipment.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Communications Systems

Definition: Covers communications between aircraft and the ground, as well as

communications on-board the aircraft. Links with 'Communication
Technology'.

Sub-domains: 1. Radio communication systems (HF, VHF, UHF, AM/FM),

analogue and digital.
2. Integration of communications systems.
3. Communications systems architecture (including routers, WANs
and gateways).
4. Reductions in power requirements, weight reduction.
5. Communication systems components. waveguides, antennas.
6. Data transmission. datalinks (VHF datalink, air-air datalink,
broadcast datalink), telemetry, ACARS.
7. On-board intercom systems.
8. Satellite communications. voice, datalinks, communications
integration.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Identification

Definition: ATM systems require accurate and timely knowledge of the

location and identification off all aircraft within their airspace.
Close links to ATM area.

Sub-domains: 1. IFF transponders (selective integration, Mode S, Mode S

subnetwork, Mode S SARPS, Mode 5).
2. Non-co-operative identification (JEM etc).

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Avionics Integration

Definition: With the increasing complexity of aircraft avionics, their integration

into an effective system is required. Evaluation of the interactions
between each sub-system is required. This include electronic flight
instrument systems, flight management, air data, attitude reference and
power distribution systems.

Sub-domains: 1. Functional verification.

2. Integration testing.
3. Maintenance of integrated avionics system.
4. Operational characteristics of integrated avionics systems.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Optics - Optronics - Lasers - Image processing and data fusion

Definition: Research and technology associated with the use of optical, electro-
optical and optronics systems; and the collection and fusing of data
from such systems.

Sub-domains: 1. System interfaces and architectures.

2. Reductions in power, weight and cooling requirements.
3. Integration with avionics.
4. Radar data processing (RDP).
5. Sources of surveillance data.
6. Optics sensors. enhanced vision sensors, light intensifiers, solid state
lasers, MOEMS (Micro electro-optical mechanical systems).
7. Nano technologies.
8. Signal processing. 9. High bandwidth data transmission. 10. Data
fusion. architectures, algorithms, validation.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Electronic Library System

Definition: Research and technology associated with the collection and

presentation of technical and operational material relating to aircraft,
in a digital form which can be accessed by flight crews and
maintenance staff through computers, either networked or stand-
alone.

Sub-domains: 1. Collection and digitisation of data.

2. Data management.
3. Data display (laptops, PDAs, tablet/slate PCs).
4. System characteristics (e.g. physical robustness to harsh operating
environment).
5. Connectivity and ground infrastructure issues.
6. IT associated tools (e.g. virtual reality) for enhanced maintenance
support.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Aircraft health and usage monitoring system

Definition: Research and technology associated with a network of sensors tasked

with monitoring the health, usage, fatigue and performance of various
aircraft systems and sub-systems.

Sub-domains: 1. Application of prognostic health management to improve condition-

based maintenance.
2. HUMS sensors. characteristics, interfaces, management, scheduling
and self-monitoring.
3. Data management. storage, archiving, retrieval, analysis.
4. Integration of diagnostic and prognostic systems.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Smart maintenance systems

Definition: Complex systems comprising electronic, electro-mechanical and hydraulic

sub-systems must be engineered with ease of maintenance as a design
goal.

In a fielded system, effective preventive maintenance achieved through

online system health monitoring, damage detection and smart diagnostics
and repair strategies will yield significant saving in the total life cycle
costs, by improving the systems' reliability, maintainability and
availability.
Sub-domains: 1. Autonomous logistics. anticipatory maintenance and repair.
2. Provisions of information to maintenance staff.
3. Reductions in logistics and maintenance support requirements.
4. Automated logging of system and sub-system performance.
5. System interfaces and architectures.
6. Self-healing and self-repairing systems and materials.
7. Maintenance monitoring systems.
8. Failure tolerant systems.
9. Computer-based maintenance support and training, methods and
materials.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Lighting systems

Definition: Research and technology into internal and external aircraft lighting
systems.

Sub-domains: 1. Lighting technologies. LED, incandescent, fluorescent, high-

density discharge, electro-luminescent.
2. Operational considerations. power requirements, reliability,
flexibility in installation and operation, reduction in maintenance
requirements.
3. Safety considerations. robustness, redundancy.
4. Lighting types. ambient cabin, task cabin (reading etc),
information and guidance, safety, flight-deck, external anti-
collision.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Aircraft Security

Definition: Aircraft security measures are the physical protection measures required in
order to protect the aircraft and the passengers and crew when they are on-
board.

Sub- 1. Systems and procedures for identification and access of personnel to the
domains: flight deck.
2. On-board explosives detection systems.
3. Alarm systems (e.g. panic alarms for cabin staff, seatback phones for
passengers).
4. Cockpit security monitoring systems (voice recorders, video surveillance
etc).
5. Passenger cabin security monitoring systems (voice recorders, video
surveillance etc).
6. Security systems deployed by armed sky marshals.
7. Tamper-proof and multiply-redundant transponder systems.
8. Modified collision and terrain-avoidance systems (to prevent aircraft from
being crashed deliberately).
9. Modified automatic landing systems (to enable forced landing of aircraft
by ground authorities after it has been hijacked). Comment: see also Area
'Structures, Materials & Processes'.
Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Electrical Power Generation & Distribution

Definition: Research and technology associated with the generation, distribution,

integration and control of electrical power on board the aircraft, both AC and
DC. The development of aircraft power technologies that are simple in design
and have a wider range of application will result in lower acquisition and
maintenance costs, and will facilitate the development of the More Electric
Aircraft.

Sub- 1. System components. generators, alternators, converters, inverters,

domains: batteries, circuit protection (circuit breakers, current limiters, automatic
bus transfer), wiring, connectors, control systems, measuring instruments,
warning indicators.
2. System characteristics. power quality, isolation, reliability, interface
standardisation.
3. Issues. electrical load analysis, power quality testing, installation
assessment, distribution and load management.
4. Integration and validation of technologies.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Pneumatic systems

Definition: Pneumatic systems provide compressed air to pressurise the aircraft water
supply system, for wing ice protection, and as emergency back-up for
hydraulic sub-systems.

Sub-domains: 1. Components. LP air cylinders, pressure gauges and warning lights,

pipework, valves and fittings, filters, seals.
2. Wing ice protection. Ice sensor integration for Protection on Demand,
hybrid wing heating.
3. Provision of emergency oxygen systems for passengers and crew4.
Emergency inflation systems (rafts, escape slides etc).

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Hydraulic power generation & distribution

Definition: Research and technology associated with the use of hydraulic systems
(power generation, control and distribution).

Sub-domains: 1. Components. reservoirs, pumps, valves (pressure regulators and

directional control), accumulators, filters, supply and return lines, seals,
actuators, fittings and control systems.
2. Design. tools to support modelling for dynamic performance analysis.
3. Interfaces with other aircraft systems.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Passenger and freight systems

Definition: Research and technology associated with the development of

improvements to aircraft seating, safety restraints and interior systems,
including the integration of on-board passenger services.

Sub-domains: 1. Passenger seats - configurations (side-facing, rear-facing, bed-seats),

comfort (suppression of vibration etc), ergonomic design, safety crash
worthiness, integration of value-added services.
2. In-flight cabin systems - electronic business/office systems, airline
information, flight information/interactive maps, internet access, telephone
access, audio/video and other multimedia services on demand, video
surveillance monitoring and recording.
3. Restraints - airbags, seat belts, child restraints, analysis of operational
effectiveness.
4. Safety systems - lightweight breathing systems, smoke hoods,
evacuation systems (slides etc).
5. Cargo systems - loading, handling, restraining, monitoring, integration.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Environmental control System

Definition: Aircraft environmental control systems (ECS) provide the means to ensure a
controlled environment within the aircraft interior, in terms of air supply, air
flow, temperature, pressure and humidity. In addition to normal cabin-air
requirements, certain areas of aircraft have special ECS-related operational
and safety requirements, such as adequate cooling of equipment or removal of
smoke or odours.
Sub-domains: 1. Provision of fresh air - bleed air, ozone converter, air conditioning/cooling
packs (heat exchangers, turbines, compressors, air mix chambers).
2. Air filters - activated charcoal, HEPA, filter status monitoring.
3. Exhaust of cabin air - pressure control, outflow valves.
4. Recirculation system - CO, CO2 monitoring and removal.
5. Temperature, humidity control.
6. Cabin ventilation and ducting system - flow patterns analysis, tools and
modelling, zonal distribution, avoidance of draughts and stagnant areas.
7. Control systems - status indicators, parameter level and system warning
indicators, manual regulators for emergency use.
8. Air quality monitoring and analysis - development of comfort index.
9. Ground operations of ECS - APU, external air conditioning units.
10. Personal climate control facilitation (temperature, airflow, humidity).

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Water and waste systems
Definition: Water is required for crew and passengers, for both drinking and cleaning
purposes. Waster from passengers and crew needs to be stored and disposed
of in an environmentally responsible manner

Sub- 1. Fresh water systems - storage, tank capacity, distribution system and flow
domains: rate, pressure system, disinfection (chlorine, anodic oxidation), ground
handling interface - filling and emptying.
2. Grey water - disposal system (heating, in-flight spraying).
3. Toilets - reliability, maintainability, technologies (recirculation, vacuum),
storage and disposal of waste.
4. Plumbing - pipework, valves, fittings, filters.
5. Cabin waste - solid/semi-solid/liquid, storage, compaction, avoidance of
smells.
6. Ground handling interface.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Fuel systems

Definition: Research and technology associated with the aircraft fuel storage and
distribution systems.

Sub-domains: 1. Storage - tank location, design, construction.

2. Distribution systems - pipes, valves, isolation systems, pumps.
3. Management system - level indicators, actuators, control system.
4. Refuelling and defuelling systems.
5. Safety issues - fire protection measures, electrical bonding straps and
jumpers.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Landing gear and braking systems

Definition: Research and technology associated with the landing gear, wheels,
tyres, braking and steering systems.

Sub-domains: 1. Landing gear - configuration and design, shock absorption

(active and passive damping), load control systems, control
theory aspects, power demand, corrosion protection.
2. Wheels - construction, design (main and nose wheels).
3. Tyres - construction, design, temperature and pressure sensors
and monitoring, operation under loads, wear prediction.
3. Braking system - materials (carbon, steel), anti-skid systems
(integrated brake monitoring, anti-skid valves, brake
management systems), automatic braking systems, temperature
sensors and monitoring systems, accumulators, pressure
transducers.
4. Steering system - nosewheel steering.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
Fire protection systems

Definition: A fire protection (FP) system in an aircraft includes passive and active
FP means. Passive FP is achieved by using fireproof, or fire-resistant,
materials. Active FP systems comprise smoke, fire and overheat
detectors with indicators, fire suppression devices and a management
control sub-system.
Sub-domains: 1. Passive protection - fireblocking layer on materials (e.g. cabin
seats), fire-resistant fittings, floor coverings and non-structural
applications.
2. Detection systems - smoke (back-scattering, optical attenuation),
fire (gas sensing, near IR, IR), overheat, hot air leakage.
3. Fire suppression - halon, watermist/nitrogen flooding,
environmental impact, piping, valves, on-board inert gas
generation systems, hand-held extinguishing systems.
4. Control systems - maintenance panels, cockpit display panels,
visualisation of system status, audible alerts, design (zonal
configuration, redundancy, reliability, systems research, analysis of
operational incidents), BITE.

Reference: https://easn.net/research-technology-areas/4/
# It provides a medium for the exchange of data and information between various
Avionics subsystems

# Integration of Avionics subsystems in military or civil aircraft and spacecraft.

Command/Response :Centralized Control Method

Token Passing : Decentralized Control Method

(Free token)

CSMA/CA : Random Access Method

How the systems are interconnected in a particular fashion
LINEAR NETWORK
Linear Cable
All the systems are connected in across the Cable
RING NETWORK
Point to Point interconnection
Datas flow through the next system from previous system
SWITCHED NETWORK
Similar to telephone network
Provides communications paths between terminals
Developed at Wright Patterson Air Force
Base in 1970s
Published First Version 1553A in 1975
Introduced in service on F-15 Programme
Published Second version 1553B in 1978
 MIL-STD-1553, Command / Response Aircraft Internal Time
Division Multiplex Data Bus, is a Military standard (presently in revision
B), which has become one of the basic tools being used today for
integration of Avionics subsystems

This standard describes the method of communication and the

electrical interface requirements for the subsystems connected in the data
bus
Data Rate 1 Mbps

Word Length 20 Bits

Message Length 32 Word Strings(maximum)

Data Bits per Word 16 Bits

Transmission Technique Half - Duplex

Encoding Manchester II Bi-phase

Protocol Command Response

Transmission Mode Voltage Mode

 UPTO 20 RECEIVERS
ARINC 429 DATABUS
TOTAL
ARINC 429
TRANSMITTER

ARINC 429 ARINC 429 ARINC 429

RECEIVER RECEIVER RECEIVER
1977 => Boeing began to work on “DATAC” project

1977 - 85 => DATAC Emerged as ARINC 629

1989 => ARINC 629 was adopted by AEEC

1990 => ARINC 629 was first implemented in BOEING-777

 Time Division Multiplex

Linear Bus

Multiple Transmitter Access

2 Mbps Data Rate

Current Mode Coupling

(Present implementation)
Data Rate 2 Mbps

Word Length 20 Bits

Message Length 31 Word Strings(maximum)

Data Bits per Word 16 Bits

Transmission Technique Half - Duplex

Encoding Manchester II Bi-phase

Protocol Carrier Sense Multiple Access

Collision avoidance

Transmission Mode Voltage Mode,Current Mode, Fiber Optic

Mode
 UPTO 120 SUBSCRIBER
ARINC 629 DATABUS TERMINALS

ARINC 629 ARINC 629 ARINC 629

TERMINAL TERMINAL TERMINAL
 AFDX [ ARNIC 664]

Avionics Fully Duplex Switched Ethernet is an advanced Protocol

Standard to interconnect avionics subsystems

It can accommodate future system

bandwidth demands

Increase flexibility in Avionics design

Reduce aircraft wire counts, thus

lowering aircraft weight and cost

Its first major use in A3xx

 AFDX [ ARNIC 664]

• Since the Ethernet is a switched architecture rather than a point-point

link, aircraft designers can create redundant sub networks

• Faults can be isolated and analysed without impacting the system as a

whole

• ARINC 429 data bus may still be used but the main Avionics data pipe will
be Ethernet (AFDX) of 100 Mbps
•Used in F-22 Advanced tactical fighter
•Generic version SAE Aerospace Standard 4074.1
•50 Mbps- linear bus
• for optical medium implementation – star topology
•HSDB uses distributed control in which each terminal is permitted to transmit only
when it receives the token frame.
IEEE –STD-1596-1992
SCI is an interconnect system for both backplane and LAN usage.
It is a system of rings and switches in its basic format
Operates at 1 Gbps
Electrical links upto 30m and optical links upto several kms.
Same Bandwidth as today’s 155Mbits/sec ATM links , 32 times that of today’s
fiber optic channel and 800 times that of Ethernet.
 1553B ARINC629 ARINC 429 ETHERNET

Standard Def-Stan ARINC ARINC IEEE 802.3

STANAG ISO 8802.3
3838

Status Published Published Published Published

Primary USAF Boeing Civil INTEL Support

US DOD Airlines
Signaling Rate

1553B - 1Mbps

Ethernet(AFDX) - 100Mbps

ARINC 429 - 100Kbps or 12-14.5Kbps

ARINC 629 - 2Mbps

Though 1553B is used in various modern aircraft, it is recognised that
buses operate in extremly severe environment like
EMI from intersystem and intrasystem
Lightning
Electrostatic discharge
High Altitude Electromagnetic pulse
Fiber-optic version of 1553B
It also operates at the rate of 1Mbps
It also have the same 20 bit word and three words such as command word,
status word and data word
stronger immunity to radiation-induced electromagnetic interference
 Controller Area Network (CAN) is the network Established among
microcontrollers.

CSMA/CA Protocol

Two wire high speed network system which was firstly Established to
overcome the problems (wire harness,Communication) faced in automobiles.

Linked up to 2032 devices(assuming one node with one identifier) on a single

network.

CAN offers high speed communication up to 1 Mbps, thus allowing real time
control.
• Originally Ginabus (Gestion des Informations Numeriques Aeroportees –
Airborne Digital Data Management)

• Designed jointly by Electronique Serge Dassault (ESD) and Avions Marcel

Dassault- Breguet Aviation (AMD-BA) and SAGEM between 1973 and 76

• Digibus is now standard for all branches of French Military is defined in the
Specification GAM-T-101
• Serial point to point communication

Between space shuttle payload general support computer and various subsystems

• MDM interface consists of a serial data bus and three discretes (Message in, Message

out and word)

• Discrete contains the timing , direction and No. of words on the serial data bus
AVIONICS ARCHITECTURE
 AVIONICS SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

Establishing the basic architecture is the first and the most

fundamental challenge faced by the designer

The architecture must conform to the overall aircraft mission and

design while ensuring that the avionics system meets its performance
requirements

These architectures rely on the data buses for intra and intersystem
communications

The optimum architecture can only be selected after a series of

exhaustive design tradeoffs that address the evaluation factors
 AVIONICS ARCHITECTURE

First Generation Architecture ( 1940’s –1950’s)

Disjoint or Independent Architecture ( MiG-21)
Centralized Architecture (F-111)
Second Generation Architecture ( 1960’s –1970’s)
Federated Architecture (F-16 A/B)
Distributed Architecture (DAIS)
Hierarchical Architecture (F-16 C/D, EAP)
Third Generation Architecture ( 1980’s –1990’s)
Pave Pillar Architecture ( F-22)
Fourth Generation Architecture (Post 2005)
Pave Pace Architecture- JSF
Open System Architecture
 FGA - DISJOINT ARCHITECTURE

Pilot

Navigation Radar
Computer Processor

Navigation Inertial Altitude Display Control RF

Panel Measurement Unit Panel ….
Sensor …
 FGA - CENTRALIZED ARCHITECTURE

Tape
GNC WDC
HSI Multiplexer Converter HSD

FCS Attack
Radar
Terrain
Following Inertial
Radar Navigator Set

SMS Nav Data

Display Panel
RADALT
Nav Data
TACAN Doppler Integrated Maintenance Entry Panel
Radar Display Set Control Unit
 SGA - DAIS HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE

Processor1 Processor2 Processor M

Bus Control Bus Control Bus Control

Interface Interface …… Interface
Data bus A

Data bus B
Remote Remote Remote
Terminal 1 Terminal 2 …… Terminal N

Control &
Sensor Sensor
Display
Equipment Equipment Equipment
 SGA - HIERARCHICAL SYSTEM

EAP AVIONICS SYSTEM

TGA - PAVE PILLAR

Higher
Sustainability

PP

Lower Mission
LCC-Low cost Effectiveness
carrier
 FTGA – PAVE PACE
Pilot Vehicle
Interfacing

Integrated RF Sensing

Integrated
Core
Processing

Integrated EO Sensing

Integrated Vehicle
Management

Integrated Stores Management

 AVIONICS SYSTEM EVOLUTION

Com m

Radar
NAV
Com m

Radar
NAV
Missi on

Missi on

Independent Avionics Federated Avionics

(40’s - 50’s) (60’s - 70’s)

Common Integrated
Processors
Common Digital
Common Analog Modules
ASDN Modules (Supercomputers)
Radar

Com m

EW

Integrated Avionics Advanced Integrated Avionics

(80’s - 90’s) (Post 2000)
 KEY OBSERVATIONS

AVIONICS ARCHITECTURAL EVOLUTION

Increased Digitization of Functions

Increased sharing and modularization of functions
Integration/ sharing concepts increased to the skin of the
aircraft
Functionality has increasingly obtained through software
Complex hardware architecture modules
Complex software modules
Increased network complexity and speed
Current avionics
Many Line Replaceable Units (LRU)
◦ Communication systems – multiple VHF radios, HF, satellite, etc
◦ Similarly for navigation and surveillance
Multimode units will reduce unit count
◦ Multimode navigation system already
◦ Multimode communications systems are expected
Integration of communication, navigation and surveillance data only takes
place in the cockpit HMI and is performed by the pilot at the moment
◦ New architectures will enable closer information integration
New aircraft architectures
Boeing and Airbus have adopted new network-based approach to
interconnection on their new aircraft – B787 and A380
◦ Enabled through Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA)

Flexible Application Environment

◦ Data is shared more widely with a range of applications
◦ Sensors provide data for use by a wide range of applications

Service-oriented architecture (SOA)

◦ Enables integration with current systems in a phased approach without any
major architectural changes
Future Avionics Architecture
SatCom VHF
Sensors &
I/O Aircraft Etc.
Sensors
SDR

Service Oriented Architecture

IMA Data Voice
AFDX Services Services

Flight Related Passenger

Flight Management
Communication
Engine Management
Data
Flight Control
Entertainment
Cockpit HMI
Client •Primary Flight Display
Applications •Navigation Display
Operations
IMA AOC
Maintenance
Passenger Info
Next Flight Planning
ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK
1. ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)

2. National Civil Aviation Organizations (FAA, CAA, Transport Canada).

3. RTCA

4. SAE

5. ARINC

6. EUROCAE
 ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK
1. ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)

◦ Part of the United Nations

◦ Headquarters in Montreal

◦ Since civil aviation is an international activity, it is beneficial for all nations to use the
same standards for most aspects of their aviation operations.
 ICAO
◦ ICAO provides this service through documents called SARPS (standards and
recommended practices)

◦ Examples of activities covered by SARPS are:

◦ Aircrew licensing

◦ Weather reports

◦ Flight plan forms

◦ Registration Markings

◦ Navigation Systems
 ICAO
1. ICAO (Continued)

For example the SARPs on Navigation defines the characteristics of the Instrument
Landing System (ILS) and includes:

• Signal strength

• Signal format

• Accuracy

• Coverage (distances at which usable signal can be detected)

 ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK
2. RTCA (Requirements and Technical Concepts for Aviation)

o Formerly known as the Radio Technical Committee for Aeronautics and Radio Technical
Commission for Aeronautics

o An example of the FAA’s practice of contracting out much of its technical work

o To understand the role of RTCA it is necessary to understand the FAA’s TSO (Technical Standard
Order)
 RTCA
• A given TSO is a minimum performance standard for a given piece of aircraft
equipment (not restricted to avionics equipment)
• A TSO authorization is the FAA’s recognition that a given design meets the TSO
and also authorizes the manufacturer to produce it.
• While the TSO authorization is not an approval to install the equipment it gives the
equipment a very great advantage in obtaining certification for its installation

One of the first questions you are asked, if you want to install some equipment in an
aircraft is “is it TSO’d?
Thus a TSO is very important.

TSO(Technical Standard Order)

RTCA
• Q: Where do TSO’s come from?
• A: RTCA
When the FAA determines the need for a new piece of equipment e.g. a GPS
receiver, it contacts the RTCA.
RTCA then establishes a committee (called a special committee) and invites
anyone with any interest in the subject to join the committee. (airlines,
equipment manufacturers, FAA officials, aircraft associations and
international representatives)
GPS committee is SC-159
The committee produces a document called a MOPS (minimum operational
performance standard) This is given a number preceded by DO
e.g. the MOPS for the GPS receiver is DO-208
RTCA
oThe RTCA MOPS is then submitted to the FAA which uses it as the basis for the
TSO

oThe GPS receiver TSO is TSO-C129a

oThus the RTCA is a very powerful organization in the development of aircraft

equipment (not just avionics)
ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK
ARINC (Aeronautical Radio Inc)

oStarted in the 1930’s by a group of airlines to provide communications between

their aircraft and their bases.

oIt still provides this service through the ATN (Aeronautical Telecommunications
Network) and ACARS (Aircraft Communications and Addressing System)

oFor avionics, however it is important for standardizing aircraft electronics boxes,

trays and connectors.

oLater it developed standards for aircraft digital data busses.

 ARINC
Electronic Equipment in aircraft has to be

• Firmly attached to the aircraft structure (by means of racks)

• Wired in to the aircraft systems

◦ Power

◦ Signals

◦ Controls
 ARINC
oEarly Electronic Equipment was not standardized and hence the mounting
systems and connectors were different not only for each piece of equipment but
for the same equipment from different manufacturers

oThus upgrading equipment was expensive and time consuming

oARINC devised a set of standard “black box” sizes and corresponding mounting
systems as well as connector designs.
ARINC
oWith standardized racks, boxes, trays and connectors, airlines could choose
among various manufacturers of a particular item (e.g. Communications
Transceiver) knowing that all they had to do was pull out the old set and plug in
the new one.
ARINC
oThe original standard was called ARINC 404.

oOr ATR (Air Transport Racking)

o “Black box” sizes were 1ATR, 3/4ATR, ½ ATR, ¼ ATR etc.

o A 1ATR box was about 10” wide, 8”high and 22” deep

oThe latest racking standard is ARINC 600 series.

ARINC
oWith the advent of digital communications in aircraft, ARINC developed popular
digital data bus communications standards, primarily ARINC 429 and ARINC
629 ,664, 818 etc
SAE
oSAE (originally Society of Automotive Engineers, now SAE International)

oAnother organization which develops standards.

o For avionics the primary publications are ARP’s (Aerospace Recommended

Practices)

o ARP5672 - Aircraft Precipitation Static Certification

o AS 5672A - ARC Fault Circuit Breaker (AFCB), Aircraft, Trip-Free Single

Phase and Three Phase 115 VAC, 400 Hz - Constant Frequency
EUROCAE
oEUROCAE is essentially the European version of RTCA

oThe two organizations work closely together and publish joint standards.
 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC)
AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO AVIONICS SYSTEMS
OBJECTIVES OF ATC
• Maintain separation of aircraft
• Expedite the flow of Air Traffic
• NOT responsible for the separation of aircraft from the ground (except when
in radar contact
 RESPONSIBILITES OF THE PILOT
(GENERAL)

o Maintain aircraft ATTITUDE

o Navigate the aircraft from departure to destination

o Avoid collision with other aircraft

o How these are accomplished depends on the weather

o (specifically ceiling and visibility)

System Engineering:

A t NASA, “systems engineering” is defined as a methodical, multi-disciplinary

approach for the design, realization, technical management, operations, and retirement
of a system.

A “system” is the combination of elements that function together to produce the

capability required to meet a need.

 The elements include all hardware, software, equipment, facilities, personnel,

processes, and procedures needed for this purpose; that is, all things required to
produce system-level results.

 The results include system-level qualities, properties, characteristics, functions,

behaviour, and performance.

Reference: NASA SYSTEMS ENGINEERING HANDBOOK

System Engineering:

Systems engineering is the art and science of developing an operable system

that meets requirements within imposed constraints.

 Systems engineering is holistic and integrative. It incorporates and balances the

contributions of structural, mechanical, electrical, software, systems safety, and
power engineers, plus many other, to produce a coherent whole.

 Systems engineering is about trade offs and compromises, about

generalists rather than specialists.

 Systems engineering is not only about the details of requirements and

interfaces among subsystems.

Systems engineering is first and foremost about getting the right design—
and then about maintaining and enhancing its technical integrity, as well as
managing complexity with good processes to get the design right.

 The principles of systems engineering apply at all levels.

Reference: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

The Scope of Systems Engineering

 Since the late 1980’s, many aerospace related government and industry
organizations have moved from a hardcore, technical leadership culture (the
art) to one of systems management (the science).

 History has shown that many projects dominated by only one of these
cultures suffer significant ill consequences.

 Organizations that focus mainly on systems management often create

products that fail to meet stakeholder objectives or are not cost effective.
The process often becomes an end unto itself, and we experience “process
paralysis.”

 Organizations that focus solely on technical issues often create

products or services that are inoperable, or suffer from lack of
coordination and become too expensive or belated to be useful.

Reference: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

The Scope of Systems Engineering
 To achieve mission success, we must identify and develop systems engineers
that are highly competent in both technical leadership and systems
management.

 That is why we focus on the complete systems engineer, who embodies the
art and science of systems engineering across all phases of aerospace
missions—a type reflected in Figure 1.

 In any project, it is critical that systems engineering be performed

well during all lifecycle phases.

 The scope of systems engineering and the associated roles and

responsibilities of a systems engineer on a project are often negotiated by
the project manager and the systems engineer.

The scope of systems engineering and the activities for which the systems engineer
is both responsible and accountable should be understood and documented early
in the project.

Reference: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

 The Scope of Systems Engineering.
Systems engineers often focus on one lifecycle phase like architecture and design versus
development or operations, but good systems engineers have knowledge of and experience
in all phases.
=>Systems engineering plays a key role in the project organization. Managing a
project consists of three main objectives:

 managing the technical aspects of the project,

 managing the project team, and
 managing the cost and schedule.

=>Systems engineering is focused on the technical characteristics of decisions

including technical, cost, and schedule and on providing these to the project
manager.

=>The Project Planning and Control (PP&C) function is responsible for

identifying and controlling the cost and schedules of the project.

=>The project manager has overall responsibility for managing the project team
and ensuring that the project delivers a technically correct system within cost and
schedule.
=>Note that there are areas where the two cornerstones of project management, SE
and PP&C, overlap.

=>In these areas, SE provides the technical aspects or inputs whereas PP&C
provides the programmatic, cost, and schedule inputs.
 The Common Technical Processes and
the SE Engine

 There are three sets of common technical processes in NPR 7123.1,

 NASA Systems Engineering Processes and Requirements: system design,

product realization, and technical management.

 The processes in each set and their interactions and flows are illustrated by the
NPR systems engineering “engine” shown in FIGURE 2.1-1.
System Design Processes: The four system design
processes shown in FIGURE 2.1-1 are used

 to define baseline stakeholder expectations,

 generate baseline technical requirements,
 decompose the requirements into logical and behavioral
models, and
 convert the technical requirements into a design
solution that will satisfy the baselined stakeholder
expectations.
Product Realization Processes: The product realization
processes are applied to each operational/ mission
product in the system structure starting from the lowest
level product and working up to higher level integrated
products.
Technical Management Processes: The technical management
processes are used to establish and evolve technical plans for the
project,

 to manage communication across interfaces,

 to assess progress against the plans and requirements for the
system products or services,
 to control technical execution of the project through to
completion, and
 to aid in the decision-making process.
 TABLE 2.1-1 Alignment of the 17 SE Processes to AS9100

AS9100 is a widely adopted and standardized quality management system developed

for the commercial aerospace industry.
 The life cycle phases

=>project system maturity, as the project progresses from a feasible concept

to an as-deployed system; phase activities; Key Decision Points (KDPs);
and major project reviews.
FIGURE 2.2-1 Miniature Version of the Poster-Size NASA Project Life Cycle
Process Flow for Flight and Ground Systems
 Distinctions between Product Verification
and Product Validation

=>Product Verification and Product Validation processes may be similar in nature, but
the objectives are fundamentally different:

 Verification of a product shows proof of compliance with requirements—

 that the product can meet each “shall” statement as proven though performance
of a test, analysis, inspection, or demonstration (or combination of these).

 Validation of a product shows that the product accomplishes the intended purpose
in the intended environment—

 that it meets the expectations of the customer and other stakeholders as shown
through performance of a test, analysis, inspection, or demonstration.
 Cost Effectiveness Considerations

 The objective of systems engineering is to see that the system is designed, built,
and can be operated so that it accomplishes its purpose safely in the most cost-
effective way possible considering performance, cost, schedule, and risk.

 A cost-effective and safe system should provide a particular kind of balance

between effectiveness and cost. This causality is an indefinite one because there
are usually many designs that meet the cost-effective condition.

 Design trade studies, an important part of the systems engineering process, often
attempt to find designs that provide the best combination of cost and effectiveness.
At each cost-effective solution:

 To reduce cost at constant risk, performance must be reduced.

 To reduce risk at constant cost, performance must be reduced.

 To reduce cost at constant performance, higher risks must be accepted.

 To reduce risk at constant performance, higher costs must be accepted.

 Human Systems Integration (HSI) in the
SE Process

 As noted at the beginning of NPR 7123.1, the “systems approach is applied to all
elements of a system (i.e., hardware, software, human systems integration.

 In short, the systems engineering approach must equally address and integrate these
three key elements: hardware, software, and human systems integration.

 Therefore, the human element is something that integration and systems engineering
processes must address.

 The definition of “system” in NPR 7123.1 is inclusive;

i.e., a system is “the combination of elements that function together to produce

the capability required to meet a need.

The elements include all hardware, software, equipment, facilities, personnel,

processes, and procedures needed for this purpose.
 Competency Model for Systems
Engineers

There are four levels of proficiencies associated with each of these

competencies:

1. Team Practitioner/Technical Engineer

2. Team Lead/Subsystem Lead

3. Project Systems Engineer

4. Chief Engineer
TABLE 2.7-1 NASA System Engineering
Competency Model
TABLE 2.7-1 NASA System Engineering
Competency Model
TABLE 2.7-1 NASA System Engineering
Competency Model
TABLE 2.7-1 NASA System Engineering
Competency Model
 Synthetic Vision System

A “synthetic vision system” is an aircraft cockpit display technology that presents the
visual environment external to the aircraft using computer-generated imagery in a
manner analogous to how it would appear to the pilot if forward visibility were not
restricted.

A synthetic vision system (SVS) is a computer-mediated reality system for aerial vehicles,
that uses 3D to provide pilots with clear and intuitive means of understanding their
flying environment.
Synthetic vision is also a generic term, which may pertain to computer vision systems
using artificial intelligence methods for visual learning, see "Synthetic Vision using
Volume Learning and Visual DNA".
Situational awareness or situation awareness (SA) is the perception of
environmental elements and events with respect to time or space, the
comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their future status.

 Situation awareness has been recognized as a critical, yet often elusive,

foundation for successful decision-making across a broad range of situations,
many of which involve the protection of human life and property, including
 aviation,
 air traffic control,
 ship navigation,
 health care,
 emergency response,
 military command and control operations, and
 offshore oil and
 nuclear power plant management.
Situational awareness or situation awareness (SA)

 Lacking or inadequate situation awareness has been identified as one of the

primary factors in accidents attributed to human error.

 The formal definition of SA is broken down into three segments: perception

of the elements in the environment, comprehension of the situation, and
projection of future status.

 Three facets of SA have been in focus in research:

 SA states,
 SA systems, and
 SA processes.

 SA states refers to the actual awareness of the situation.

 SA systems refers to the distribution of SA in teams and between objects in

the environment, and to the exchange of SA between system parts.

 SA processes refers to the updating of SA states, and what guides the

moment-to-moment change of SA.