Mathematical Programming for Optimization of Integrated Modular Avionics (SAE Paper 2021-01-0009)

Every state-of-art aircraft has a complex distributed system of avionics Line Replaceable Units/Modules (LRUs/LRMs), networked by several Data buses. These LRUs are becoming more complex because of an increasing number of new functions to be integrated like Synthetic Vision System (SVS), SBAS-FMS, Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS), Multi-function Display (MFD), Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS), In-flight Entertainment (IFE), etc. Moreover, the complexity of the overall avionics architecture and its impact on cable length, weight, power consumption, reliability and maintainability of avionics systems encouraged manufacturers to incorporate efficient avionics architectures in their aircraft design process. The evolution of avionics data buses and architectures have moved from distributed analog and federated architecture to digital integrated modular avionics (IMA). IMA architecture allows suppliers to develop their own LRUs/LRMs capable of specific features that can then be offered to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) as Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products. In the meantime, the aerospace industry has been investigating new solutions to develop smaller, lighter, and more cost effective LRUs/LRMs to be integrated into avionics architecture. However, how to allocate and choose the best possible avionics LRUs/LRMs in avionics architectures to optimise weight and power consumption as well as improving operational capabilities in aircraft-level is an extremely difficult optimisation problem known as NP-hard. In this paper, a mathematical programming based on combinatorial optimisation techniques is proposed which automatically allocates the best possible LRUs/LRMs to avionics architecture while considering some avionics integration constraints.