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Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 6, June 2013)
Design Proposal for Optical Data Bus Network for Small Aircraft
Nikhil Verma 1, Md. Easir Arafat Papon2, Akhter Mahmud Nafi3
IAF, Instructor Class-A, Dept. of Aeronautical Engg. Military Institute of Science & Tech, Dhaka Lecturer, Dept. of Aeronautical Engg. Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), Dhaka 3 Undergraduate student, Aeronautical Engg. Dept, MIST, Dhaka AbstractWith the development of the avionics system, II. SELECTION OF BUS NETWORK
2 I
integrated avionics architecture is desirable for the next generation of high performance aircraft. In this regard we have proposed a data bus network for small aircrafts to meet the demand of bandwidth, data transmission rate, immunity to electromagnetic interference, weight and size. This paper describes about the proposal, word format, data generation processes and reasons behind choosing such a network. It also describes technical specifications to show the optical fiber based network as a reliable and modular system for use in aircrafts. KeywordsAvionics network, data bus, architecture, Optical fibre, reliability, failure rate. federated
I. INTRODUCTION Avionics industry is undergoing rapid changes over the years. Network standards are also been upgraded according to the requirements as well. The functional requirements relate to capability of the network in transporting data from source to destination and involve parameters such as throughput, latency, fault tolerance, bit-error rates etc. and the guarantee of reliable information flow. All these aspects make the process selection of on board avionics network difficult. Optical fiber based networks provide greater bandwidth, excellent data transmission rate, enhanced immunity to electromagnetic interferences and less weight and size and therefore, the performance of optical network can meet the demand of avionics system developments [1]. Integrated digital avionics data transmission networks allow data multiplexing, transmission/reception and communication of on-board avionics data in modular avionics architecture. In vogue, data bus protocols are: ARINC 429, ARINC 629, MIL-STD 1553, MIL-STD 1773, Commercial Serial Digital Bus (CSDB) and Avionics Serial Communication Bus (ASCB) [1]. For small aircrafts where parameters to be considered are less, we are proposing an optical fiber based avionics data bus network, related calculations, results for reliability and failure rate which proves the capability of the proposed network in this regard. 377
There are different types of networks which can be used in avionics network [2]. Choosing the basic network is the first and the most fundamental challenge faced by the designer. Considering the requirements of proposed architecture for small aircraft we select bus architecture. For small aircraft we need a network that is suitable for limited no. of avionics equipment, flexible for future expansion and provide redundancy. Bus topology fulfills that requirement. It also allows less number of cables in design. Redundancy is the most important factor in avionics network. Bus topology is redundant because failure of a single device doesnt bring the entire network. It is inexpensive and simple network and very easy to extend the network by adding cable with a repeater that boosts the signal and it allows it to travel a longer distance [1, 2]. III. REASONS BEHIND SELECTING FEDERATED ARCHITECTURE For small aircraft avionics architecture, considering several aspects in design including expected throughput, data flow patterns and for future expansion federated architecture is considered most suitable. The airborne systems are needed to be connected with each other through the standard data bus and sharing information. Simplification of interconnection between devices and reduction in weight is necessary for small aircraft avionics architecture which is being fulfilled by Federated architecture. This architecture permits the independent design, configuration and optimization of the major systems while ensuring that they are using a common database. Weight and cost reduction using federated architecture has already been studied in various avionics network designs [3]. With this, system software and hardware changes are easy to make and failure is not propagated which is a great advantage.
Dual redundant data buses E-O-C converter Bus A Bus B Laser Gyro or Inertial Navigation Platform GPS Multifunction Display or Display Map Bank
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Sync
1
Parity
16
The sync and parity bit are added before transmission and remove during reception. Therefore the nominal word size is 14 bits with the most significant bit (MSB) first. There are mainly two types of words: command word and data word. Command words are generated by the every equipment of data bus. It consists of 16 bits with recipient address, sender identification and data word count shown in table 2.
TABLE 2 COMMAND WORD
Sync
Sender identificatio n
3456
Txr/ Rxr
Receiver identificati on
8 9 10 11
Parity Check
16
No
Yes
Delay
Data word count is 4 bit, so after every command word, a component can transmit maximum 24 or 16 data words. Command word has 4 bits for recipient addresses it can support 24=16 equipments at a time. It has 4 bits for data word count so one equipment can talk max 24 =16 words simultaneously. The small message size results in very low latency, minimizing delays during processing and guaranteeing timing, as no transport side queuing or rescheduling of traffic can happen. The message size is one of the cornerstones for achieving safety, resilience and reliability [4, 9, 13]. VII. DATA GENERATION BY DIFFERENT TYPES OF AVIONICS SYSTEMS Every component would generate digital data and it passes through the data bus. In order to obtain the reliability and error rate data generated needs to be ascertained. Range of the measurement means the difference between the largest and the smallest value that respective sensor can measure. Proposed data bus has 14 bits for data. 2s complement method is used for converting decimal value into binary.
VI. WORD FORMAT A data word in proposed data bus would be a sequence of 16 bits consisting of 1 bit for sync wave, 14 bits of data and 1 parity check bit, as shown in table 1.
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A. Master Computer (MC) & Backup Master Computer It is having the 1st priority and memory address is 0000. Assuming operating frequency 10 MHz, total bits generated per second, =1410106 Mbps or 140 Mbps Backup master computer will have same to same data out as MC, as it works as hot standby. B. Inertial Navigation Platform Its having the 3rd priority and address is 0010. Major equipment to be taken into consideration is Laser Gyro having range of 300 degree [6]. We need values up to 2nd place of decimal to represent laser gyro data. If we represent the maximum value of equipment in 14 bits with two digits after decimal the conversion error would be 0.03o. In order to minimize the error, two 14 bits words assigned for magnitude whose 1st bit is sign bit and another 1 word for decimal value representation. Minimum & Maximum value at all 14 bits: 299.99o. Minimum value represented in binary is 10000100101011.11111101011100. Maximum value in binary representation is 00000100101011.11111101011100. Maximum error in conversion is 0.01o Assuming, operating frequency 300 Hz (100Hz for each 3 axis) of aircraft and a sampling rate 2300Hz, the inertial navigation platform would generate a minimum of 84 Kbps of data. C. Air Data Computer It is having 4th priority and memory address is 0011. Air data computer computes parameters of Air Speed Indicator, True Air Speed, Computed Air Speed, Static Air Temperature, Altitude, Selected Altitude, Pressure Altitude, Vertical Speed etc. [12]. The table shows the overall data throughput and analog to digital conversion limits for Air Data Computer parameters. These calculations are done assuming operating frequency of 100 Hz. In case of air speed indicator, true air speed, computed air speed, static air temperature we need two places after decimal to represent the data. If we represent the maximum value of equipment in 14 bits with two digits after decimal, there will be 9 digits for magnitude and rest 5 bits for decimal value representation. Likewise, for altitude, pressure altitude, selected altitude and vertical speed, we need 2 values after decimal to represent the data. One set of 14 bits can be assigned for magnitude, whose 1st bit is sign bit. Another 14 bits can represent the value. 380
Priority
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Component
Master Computer Backup Master Computer Laser gyro Air Data Computer Engine Monitoring System GPS Multifunction Display Radio Nav-aid
Memory address
0000 0001 0010 0011 0100 0101 0110 0111
Based on the memory addresses, data characteristics, conversion error and data generation of all avionics equipment are given bellow:
Parameters
Range of operation
0-160 knots
00000000.000000
10011111.111111
0.01 knots
2.8Kbps
0-300 knots
00000000.000000
100101011.11111 1
0.02 knots
2.8Kbps
50-300 knots
-990 to 500C
-98.99 to 49.990C
Altitude
-1000 ft to 20000 ft
-999 to 8191 ft
10001111100111. 11111101011100
01111111111111. 11111101011100
0.01ft
2.8Kbps
Pressure Altitude
-1000 ft to 20000 ft
-999 to 8191 ft
10001111100111. 11111101011100
11111111111111. 11111101011100
0.01ft
2.8Kbps
Selected Altitude
-1000 ft to 20000 ft
-999 to 8191 ft
10001111100111. 11111101011100
01111111111111. 11111101011100
0.01ft
2.8Kbps
Vertical Speed
0 ft to 20000 ft
0-499.99 ft
00000000000000. 00000000000000
01001110000111. 11111101011100
0.01ft
2.8Kbps
D. Engine Control Unit (ECU) Engine control unit is the 6th priority avionics component having memory address 0100. Three parameters; engine temperature, exhaust gas temperature and engine RPM are important for aircraft operation.
Assuming an operating frequency of 100 Hz, table-5 shows the digital data generated by ECU.
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Min Parameters Range of operation & Max value at all 14 bits 0o F to 459.99oF 0o F to 1119.99oF 0% to 109.99% Min. value in binary Max. value in binary
Engine Temp
0o F to 460oF
111001011.11111
0.02o F
2.8Kbps
0o F to 1220oF
00010010101111.1 1111101011100
0.01%
2.8Kbps
Engine RPM
0% to 110%
1101101.1111110
0.01%
2.8Kbps
E. GPS GPS is given the 6th priority and having the memory address as 0101. We will calculate for two parameters like latitude and longitude information. Latitude range is 90 o. 4 values after decimal are required to represent the data of latitude. If we represent the maximum value of latitude in 14 bits with two digits after decimal, there will be 8 bits for magnitude and rest 6 bits for decimal value representation. Minimum & Maximum value at all 14 bits is 89.9999 o. Minimum value in binary representation is 1101101.111111 whereas maximum value in binary representation is 0101101.111111. Maximum error in conversion is 0.0156 o. In case of longitude, the range is 180o. We assign one set of 14 bits for magnitude whose 1 st bit is positive or negative sign bit and another 14 bits for decimal value representation. Minimum & Maximum value at all 14 bits in longitude is 179.9999 o and minimum value in binary representation is 10000010110011.11111111111110 whereas maximum value in binary representation is 00000010110011.11111111111110 and maximum error in conversion 0 .0001o. Assuming operating frequency 100 Hz and sampling rate of 2100 Hz, generated bits would be 2.8Kbps. Now, for three types of BIT there will be some bits also.
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Assuming 145 Mbps is the maximum throughput in the data bus. VIII. CONCLUSION Over the years complexity of avionics systems has increased and also the requirement of high data bandwidth and speed of on-board avionics network. As a result developments are on for commercially adopting optical standards for avionics networks. Hence, in case of small aircraft an optical the data bus network is being proposed. This paper gives a comparative overview of the proposal to be used in a single engine aircraft. From a preliminary assessment of its key features it can be concluded that optical data bus proposal is an easy-to-implement, inexpensive protocol whose reliability may be adequate for most applications in the early ages. There is need to study in depth the hardware and software reliability independently. Various layers of avionics data bus protocols, matching the industrial standards, need further research. Economics of adapting present avionics equipments for optical platform would be a major driving factor. Optical data bus for on board avionics data network would appear to have a promising future. REFERENCES
[1] Wg Cdr Nikhil Verma, Md. Easir Arafat Papon, A Study of Reliability and Failure Rate for Comparing BIT and non-BIT maintenance cycles in AONA,IJETAE, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2013. Myron Kayton and Walter R. Fried. , Avionics Navigation Systems, 2nd edition ISBN :978-81-265-2400-6 , Page 57-69,324-326,394-407
1. Start on need 5 9 14=630 bps 2. On demand need 5 9 14=630 bps 3. Self check need 10 9 14=1260 bps By calculating it is found that there will be 140.1872 Mb data in every second in our proposed architecture. 382
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[11]
[5]
[12]
[6]
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[7]
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