Timed Injection of Simulation Data via Redundant Network Ports in Time Triggered Ethernet (TTE) Systems

Vehicle-scale integration and test requires closed-loop simulation using full-scale avionics systems or even entire vehicles. Incorporation of simulation data into real systems is problematic because real system sensors report the real laboratory environment, not the simulation environment. Past methods have attempted to simulate the physical sensors, or have added simulation interfaces to the flight sensor electronics. Both approaches are intrusive and costly to incorporate in an actual flight system design. The first approach requires dozens to hundreds of contact points between the vehicle and the simulation hardware. The second approach adds complexity, cost, and failure modes to the flight system hardware and firmware.