The rapid increase of networked electronic control units in
airplanes (Line Replaceable Units or Modules, LRUs/LRMs) and
automobiles (ECUs) requires to move from CAN buses to higher
performance buses. In aircraft the number of LRUs exceeded 100 in
1990 (B777) and is now ≻5000 (A380). Today, the number of ECUs in
some automobiles also exceeds 100. Aircraft industry developed
solutions based on standard switched Ethernet (AFDX) and
standardized ECUs, called Integrated Modular Avionic units (IMA
units) and common remote data concentrators (cRDCs) that are now
flying in the Airbus A380 and A400M, the Boeing B787, and are being
used in the design of future civil and military aircraft. During
the last decade, automotive industry has been pursuing the
development of specialized FlexRay bus solutions for automotive
control and specialized MOST bus solutions for comfort electronics.
However, some automotive companies are now also looking at
Ethernet-based solutions.
This paper describes some of the steps aircraft industry has
been taking to cope with the rapid increase of the number ECUs in
aircraft and the use of Ethernet, IMAs and vehicle level executable
specifications for high security applications in aircraft. For an
example of an ABS system it is shown how high security Avionics
Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX) buses may be used to replace
CAN, FlexRay, and MOST solutions for automobiles.