Avionics Technology Crash Course

Avionics Technology Crash Course

Avionics technology training teaches avionics engineers about aircraft systems such as communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems, and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to perform individual functions.

These systems range from something as simple as a police helicopter searchlight to a complicated tactical system for airborne early warning platforms.

But avionics technology is also about evolution and the advancement of electronics to provide important devices that are both innovative and boost additional safety measures. This is illustrated by the FAA’s decision to reduce separation requirements for airplanes flying in U.S.-controlled oceanic airspace.

Avionic technology is essential to enable the flight crew to carry out the aircraft mission safely and efficiently in everything from carrying passengers to their destination to intercepting a hostile aircraft.

One of the key components in avionics is the data bus.

There are 11 ARINC 629 data buses consisting of three Flight Controls Buses, four System Buses, and four AIMS Inter-cabinet Buses. The Flight Control Buses connect LRU’ s containing flight control functions such as the Air Data Inertial Reference System, the primary night computers, and the autopilot.

The System Buses connect LRU’s containing system functions such as avionics, propulsion. electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, and environmental controls.

Avionics technology covers many more areas than just the electronics of a cockpit.

Batteries, for example, are an essential component of virtually all aircraft electrical systems. The importance of batteries in avionics technology is considerable, such as:

• Starting engines and auxiliary power units (APUs)
• Providing emergency backup power for essential avionics equipment
• Providing power for essential avionics equipment and lighting systems
• Assuring no-break power for navigation units and fly-by-wire computers
• Providing ground power capability for maintenance and preflight checkouts

Needless to say, many of these functions are critical to the safe operation of the aircraft, so the reliability of an aircraft battery is of utmost importance.

Avionics Technology Crash Course by Tonex

Avionics Technology Crash Course is a 2-day crash course  covers advanced avionics technology, Network/IO systems used in these aircraft, digital databus communication, software and hardware architecture, avionics systems design and engineering principles, ARP 475,  Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) and ARINC protocols.

Digital Databus Theory and Analysis explores several formats of digital data transfer protocols such as ARINC 429,  MIL-STD-1553 databus and others.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the attendees will:

• Learn the basic theory of operation of common databuses used in aviation
• List the Fundamentals of IMA Systems
• Describe IMA System Characteristics
• Compare and Contrast ARINC 653, DO-297 and DO-178
• Learn the basics of Partitioned Avionic Software
• Learn the basic Avionics Network & IO
• Describe what Aircraft Data Network (ADN) and Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX) are
• Learn the Basics of Avionic Data Buses and Multiplexing
• List the key Elements of ARINC 429
• List the key Elements of ARINC 664-P7/AFDX

Course Outline:

Overview of Avionics Technologies

• Terminologies
• Background
• Applications
• Guidance and standards
• Line replaceable units
• Circuit board assemblies
• Application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)
• Programmable logic devices (FPGA)
• The nature of microelectronic devices
  • Processors
  • Memory devices
  • Digital data buses
  • Ethernet/AFDX
  • ARINC 429 data bus
  • ARINC 664/Part 7/AFDX/Ethernet
  • ARINC 825 CAN Bus
  • COTS data buses
• Data bus integration of aircraft systems
  • COTS data buses – IEEE 1394 468
• Fiber optic buses
• Avionics packaging standards
• Typical LRU architecture
• Integrated modular avionics (IMA)

Fundamentals of Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) Systems

• Overview of distributed real-time computer network aboard an aircraft
• IMA benefits
• IMA applications
• Terminology

• • Robust partitioning
  • ARINC 653
  • AFDX
  • APEX API

• IMA time partition
• System definition
• IMA samples
• Planned function
• Associated rules, principles, and guidance material failure condition category (ARP 4754)
• Minimum performance standards environmental qualification
• Configuration Management

IMA System Characteristics

• Shared resources
• Platform independent application development
• Portable applications
• Flexible with limited effects
• Increased configuration management (CM) complication
  • Most CM issues must be handled at the integrated level

Federated vs IMA Architecture

• Processes
• Resources
• Applications
• Management and strategies

IMA Features

• Layered architecture
• Reconfiguration of applications on the modules
  • Static reconfiguration
  • Dynamic reconfiguration
• Partitioning: protection devices to share resources
• Flexible scheduling
• Code reuse and portability
• An operating system to run the applications
• Physical integration of networks, modules and IO devices
• Design for development

Differences between ARINC 653/DO-297/DO-178

• ARINC 653 is a FSW level standard
• DO-297 is tied to IMA
• From RTCA standpoint
• From FAA perspective
• Relationship to DO-178
• Concept structures
• Relationship to APEX (API)
• Relationship to RTOS

Partitioned Avionic Software

• Correlation to IMA
• Incorporating mixed criticality systems
• Application layer development
• System fault tolerance
• Importance of partitioning
• Effective SW partitioning

Examples of Aircraft Using IMA

• Boeing 787

Network and I/O Fundamentals

• Aircraft Data Network (ADN): Ethernet derivative for Commercial Aircraft
• Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX): Specific implementation of ARINC 664 (ADN) for Commercial Aircraft
• ARINC 429: Generic Medium-Speed Data Sharing for Private and Commercial Aircraft
• ARINC 825: CAN Bus basics

Introduction to Avionic Data Buses and Multiplexing

• What is ARINC 429?
• The ARINC429 specification
• ARINC 429 overview
• The ARINC 429 specification
• ARINC 429 usage
• ARINC 429 definitions, encoding & formats
• ARINC 429 data bus operation
• ARINC 429 data encoding, word formats, message formats, and response time.

Key Elements of ARINC 429

• Technical description
• Medium and Signaling
• Cable characteristics
• Transmission characteristics
• Waveform parameters
• ARINC 429 software and hardware characteristics
• ARINC 429 procedures and tools
• ARINC 429 design and implementation
• ARINC 429 capable systems
• ARINC 429 testing, verification and validation
• ARINC 429 Multiplexing

ARINC 429 General Requirements

• ARINC 429 Design Fundamentals
• Message and Word Formatting
• Direction of Information Flow
• Information Element
• Information Identifier
• Source/Destination Identifier
• Sign/Status Matrix
• Data Standards
• Timing-Related Elements
• Bit Rate
• Information Rates
• Clocking Method
• Word
• Synchronization
• Timing Tolerances

ARINC 429 Protocol

• Data Encoding and Decoding
• Word formats
• Parity
• Sign/Status Matrix
• Data and Data Types
• Source/Destination Identifier
• Label
• Bit numbering, transmission order, and bit significance
• Word format
• Labels
• Message formats
• Hardware design
• Data Bus Characteristics
• Terminal Characteristics

ARINC 429 Data Loading – ARINC665/ARINC615

ARINC 429 System Design

• Data Bus Topology
• Data Bus Control
• Partitioning & Redundancy
• Bus Loading
• Software Design
• Controller Software
• Protection from interference
• ARINC 429 Phases of Testing
• Test Plans
• Verification and Validation Testing

Overview  ARINC 664 

• ARINC 664-P7/AFDX.
• Introduction to Avionic Ethernet Data Transmission
• Key Elements of ARINC 664-P7/AFDX
• ARINC 664 General Requirements
• ARINC 664 Protocol
• ARINC 664 Data Loading – ARINC665/ARINC 615A
• ARINC 664 System Design

Avionics Technology Crash Course