Browse Topic: Avionics
This document presents criteria for flight deck controls and displays for Airborne Collision Avoidance Systems.
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) provides recommendations for design and test requirements for a generic “passive” side stick that could be used for fly-by wire transport and business aircraft. It addresses the following: The functions to be implemented The geometric and mechanical characteristics The mechanical and electrical interfaces The safety and certification requirements
This work describes the flight control system architecture of the VSDDL VT-03-s Shadow, a cost-effective subscale aircraft used as a testbed for novel flight control schemes. The highlight is the Maneuver Control System comprising the Trajectory Control System, which facilitates Simplified Vehicle Operations, and the Tactical Maneuvering System, which permits more aggressive maneuvering. The control laws permit the selection of both vertical takeoff and landing and conventional takeoff and landing modes of operation. Flight test results shown include transitions between vertical and forward flight modes performed using both Trajectory Control System and Tactical Maneuvering System, limited aerobatic maneuvering performed using the Tactical Maneuvering System, and demonstration of some of the automatic flight functions and capabilities.
An automatic clear area takeoff mode is developed and initial flight tested for the Airbus Helicopters 5-bladed H145, certification name BK117 D-3, equipped with the Helionix® avionic system and a 4-axis automatic flight control system. While the automatic rearward and vertical takeoff modes are already certified up to the maximum Cat A weight, the clear area procedure - often providing the highest performance in terms of gross weight - currently requires manual execution. The introduction of an automatic clear area takeoff mode ensures a repeatable, procedure conform clear area takeoff profile while respecting engine limits and reducing overall pilot workload. The paper details the integration of the automatic clear area takeoff mode into the existing automatic flight control system, covering automatic clear area normal, continued, and rejected takeoff procedures. Initial flight test results are presented to demonstrate the consistency of the automated flight path and the ability to
The aerospace industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by emerging aviation technologies, including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and highly automated flight control systems. These complex systems often feature tightly coupled flight controls and power plants where traditional methods of compliance — relying heavily on physical ground and flight testing — are becoming increasingly impractical due to the vast number of potential interaction cases. To address this challenge, the SAE G-35 Modeling, Simulation, and Training for Emerging Aviation Technologies and Concepts Committee was formed to develop industry consensus standards. This presentation discusses the landmark release of SAE ARP7094, "Recommended Practice for Using Modeling and Simulation for Certification of Aircraft, Products, and Systems" and its role in establishing a standardized, simulation-based path to certification. The SAE G35C group is responsible
This paper presents enhancements to the supervisory controller developed for the National Research Council Canada's Bell 412 autonomous helicopter. Building on a Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS)-based framework, the updated Supervisor introduces two new operational modes-Knobs Mode and Sticks Mode-and a structured approach for managing transitions between them and the existing modes. Drawing inspiration from NASA's Flight Guidance System philosophy, the proposed design emphasizes consistency, scalability, and flexibility in handling multiple autonomy modes. Implementation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the updated architecture in supporting future expansion of autonomous mission operations in complex and dynamic environments.
Developing a comprehensive autonomy solution for the Army's current and future aircraft fleet requires a robust computational and perception capability for decision-making across the entire flight envelope without a pilot. This also requires a flight control system and infrastructure capable of executing autonomous decisions in complex mission environments. Ongoing development of automation and autonomy, utilizing a wide range of perception sensors, has been conducted on platforms such as Sikorsky's S-70 and the Army's UH-60Mx aircraft. This work builds upon previous efforts and leverages ongoing collaborations with industry, the Department of War (DoW), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to advance autonomous capabilities for both optionally piloted and uncrewed aircraft.
The certification of highly integrated electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft requires a rigorous bridge between simulation and flight reality. This paper presents the Joby Disturbance Generator, a high-integrity software framework natively integrated into the aircraft flight control system. The system utilizes a deterministic state machine to inject a library of signals, ranging from standard doublets and chirps to complex waveforms, directly into internal control loops. Applications include frequency sweeps for stability margin extraction and structural mode identification, time-domain inputs for handling qualities assessment, synthetic fault injection for redundancy management verification, and precise loads model validation. The system continuously monitors vehicle health, automatically aborting test points upon detecting genuine failures. For loads validation, it coordinates temporary relaxation of flight envelope protections with precise disturbance injection
This paper presents the development flight test campaign of autopilot Upper Modes for T-625 Gökbey helicopter. The primary objective of the test campaign is to evaluate the newly developed Upper Modes in the frequency and time domain across the operational flight envelope. For quantification of performance and stability, various metrics are selected from the literature. Flight tests are designed to extract the metrics from time domain data and tests are conducted. Initial flight tests revealed discrepancies between theoretical design models and actual aircraft dynamics, requiring iterative control law gain optimizations. Furthermore, combined mode engagements required targeted simultaneous tuning of different modes to maintain stability margins in combined engagement. By integrating quantitative data analysis with qualitative pilot feedback, engagement logic and control parameters were successfully refined.
The proliferation of Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs) necessitates robust solutions for dynamic obstacle avoidance, particularly against non-cooperative intruders whose trajectories are unpredictable. While traditional path-planning algorithms excel in static environments, they struggle with dynamic obstacles due to the inherent difficulty in accurately estimating and registering their real-time depth and velocity into a world model. This paper presents a novel two-stage vision-based framework that leverages deep learning for reactive avoidance of non-cooperative dynamic intruders. Our approach decouples the perception and decision-making processes: an object detection deep neural network first processes monocular camera images to detect and track the 2D pixel coordinates of intruders. This perceptual output is then fed into a deep reinforcement learning agent, which learns a mapping from the intruder's image-space location to a high-level avoidance maneuver. This leads to more
When surveying the current landscape of Deterministic Ethernet avionics solutions in the aerospace industry, the three main technologies in the market are ARINC 664 part 7 rate-constrained Ethernet (commonly known by its trademark name "AFDX®"), TTEthernet (which combines ARINC 664 part 7 with Best-Effort Ethernet, while adding a new class of synchronous determinism defined in SAE AS6802 [Time-Triggered Ethernet]), and IEEE 802.1 Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN). No single deterministic Ethernet technology optimally satisfies certification, MOSA, and lifecycle goals across all avionics domains. Instead, successful digital backbones require intentional partitioning of responsibilities across technologies. This paper will seek to identify a number of those considerations and provide guidance on which technologies offer the best fit. After first opening with an explanation of the market forces driving the trends towards these technologies, this paper will delve into a short outline of each
Given the necessity of performing System Certification according to SAE ARP4754, accepted as guideline by aeronautics certification authorities for development of aircrafts and complex systems, the need to define a robust and adaptable system requirements Validation and Verification (V&V) process has become a priority. SAE ARP4754 compliant processes shall be applied for certification of new complex systems, as well as to existing ones. Defining suitable and compliant processes for projects that were already in an advanced development stage when compliance to ARP4754 became mandatory is even more challenging with respect to the application to new projects, as the need of rearranging existing certification documentation naturally arises. This paper illustrates a process compliant with ARP4754 guidelines to achieve the System level requirement V&V. The presented process – based on the Function-Based Systems Engineering (FuSE) – has been applied to the civil certification of the Fly-By
This paper presents the development, optimization, and flight test validation of a Trajectory Control System (TCS)-based flight control system for a tiltwing unmanned aerial vehicle. The TCS is a configuration-independent middle-loop longitudinal controller for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and is integrated here with explicit model following inner-loop controllers, inverse propulsor models, and a tiltwing-specific control allocation scheme. The resulting flight control system provides coordinated control across vertical flight mode, hybrid flight mode, transition flight mode, and forward flight mode while relying on a concise feedback set and requiring only airspeed from the air data system. The control laws are obtained using a formal constrained optimization framework and transferred directly from simulation to flight without additional on-site retuning. Flight test results from piloted, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous operations demonstrate stable and predictable
Developing high-integrity software is a complex process that involves meeting strict standards across various industries. For instance, in the avionics sector, the DO-178C Design Assurance Level A (DAL-A) sets the highest level of rigor, requiring comprehensive evidence that the software will perform its intended safety functions. Modern avionics systems are made up of hardware and software from different vendors, all integrated by prime contractors. By achieving modularity in these systems, we can reduce interface complexity, manage version control, address supply chain vulnerabilities, and significantly lower recertification costs. To support a high degree of integration and software reuse in avionics systems, certain architectural elements are necessary. These include a certified Real-Time Operating System (RTOS), open standards consortia like FACE® and MOSA, multicore partitioning strategies, deterministic networking, and hypervisor-based virtualization. The role of a certified
This document applies to the development of Plans for integrating and managing COTS assemblies in electronic equipment and Systems for the commercial, military, and space markets, as well as other ADHP markets that wish to use this document. For purposes of this document, COTS assemblies are viewed as electronic assemblies such as printed wiring assemblies, disk drives, servers, printers, laptop computers, etc. There are many ways to categorize COTS assemblies1, including the following spectrum: At one end of the spectrum are COTS assemblies whose design, internal parts2, materials, configuration control, traceability, reliability, and qualification methods are at least partially controlled, or influenced, by ADHP customers (either individually or collectively) or by industry standards. An example at this end of the spectrum is a VME circuit card assembly. At the other end of the spectrum are COTS assemblies whose design, internal parts, materials, configuration control, and
This paper presents an initial handling qualities analysis of an Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) hexacopter. The analysis uses the Distributed Electric Propulsion Simulation (DEPSim), developed by Penn State University (PSU) and the Comprehensive Hierarchical Aeromechanics Rotorcraft Model (CHARM), developed by Continuum Dynamics, Inc. (CDI). The study focuses on evaluating a generic AAM hexacopter performing Handling Qualities Task Elements (HQTE) as defined by the DOT / FAA. A trajectory controller was developed to enable simulation of prescribed flight paths, allowing automated simulation of four HQTEs: Heliport Approach, Hovering Turn and Hold, Pirouette, Lateral Reposition and Hold. Design modifications incorporating lateral mast tilt and Direct Side Force Control (DSFC) were implemented to enhance yaw control and ride qualities. Piloted simulations were conducted at the PSU rotorcraft flight simulation facility using DEPSim, employing an Attitude Command Attitude
This Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) outlines the causes and impacts of moisture and/or condensation in avionics equipment and provides recommendations for corrective and preventative action.
With the continuous development of avionics systems towards greater integration and modularization, traditional aircraft buses such as ARINC 429 and MIL-STD-1553B are increasingly facing challenges in meeting the demanding requirements of next-generation avionics systems. These traditional buses struggle to provide sufficient bandwidth efficiency, real-time performance, and scalability for modern avionics applications. In response to these limitations, AFDX (Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet), a deterministic network architecture based on the ARINC 664 standard, has emerged as a critical solution for enabling high-speed data communication in avionics systems. The AFDX architecture offers several advantages, including a dual-redundant network topology, a Virtual Link (VL) isolation mechanism, and well-defined bandwidth allocation strategies, all of which contribute to its robustness and reliability. However, with the increasing complexity of onboard networks and multi-tasking
This document establishes re-certification guidelines applicable to fiber optic fabricator technical training for individuals involved in the manufacturing, installation, support, integration and testing of fiber optic systems. Applicable personnel include: Managers Engineers Technicians Trainers/Instructors Third Party Maintenance Agencies Quality Assurance Production
This Aeronautical Standard covers two (2) basic types of instruments as follows: TYPE I - Range 35,000 feet. Barometric Pressure. Scale range at least 28.1 - 30.99 inches of mercury (946-1049 millibars). May include markers working in conjunction with the Barometric Pressure Scale to indicate pressure altitude. TYPE II- Range 50,000 feet. Barometric Pressure. Scale range at least 28.1 - 30.99 inches of mercury (946-1049 millibars). May include markers working in conjunction with the Barometric Pressure Scale to indicate pressure altitude.
Modern military aircraft represent some of the most complex electronic environments ever engineered. These platforms integrate advanced avionics, radar systems, data links, and communication networks that must function seamlessly in hostile, high-frequency environments. In these mission-critical contexts, electromagnetic interference (EMI) poses a silent but serious threat that can degrade signal integrity, cause crosstalk between systems, or even lead to mission failure. The combination of increasing data rates, higher frequencies, and more complex electromagnetic environments demands shielding solutions that can deliver superior performance while contributing to overall system weight reduction. This challenge has driven innovation toward advanced materials that maintain electrical effectiveness while dramatically reducing mass.
The multinational EPIIC programme, involving Airbus Defence and Space, is exploring multiple exciting innovations to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities and technological sovereignty. Airbus, Toulouse, France Imagine Tony Stark soaring through the skies in his iconic Iron Man suit, each command answered with a seamless blend of futuristic technology. Now imagine the cockpit of tomorrow's fighter jet.
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) contains methods used to measure the optical performance of airborne electronic flat panel display (FPD) systems. The methods described are specific to the direct view, liquid crystal matrix (x-y addressable) display technology used on aircraft flight decks. The focus of this document is on active matrix, liquid crystal displays (LCD). The majority of the procedures can be applied to other display technologies, however, it is cautioned that some techniques need to be tailored to different display technologies. The document covers monochrome and color LCD operation in the transmissive mode within the visual spectrum (the wavelength range of 380 to 780 nm). These procedures are adaptable to reflective and transflective displays paying special attention to the source illumination geometry. Photometric and colorimetric measurement procedures for airborne direct view CRT (cathode ray tube) displays are found in ARP1782. Optical measurement
Advancements in embedded processing, software, new product introductions, partnerships and recent demonstration flights reflect the growth in development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for military aircraft avionics systems occurring in the aerospace industry. This article highlights trends across several industry partnerships, demonstration flights and the enabling elements that are providing opportunities to integrate AI and ML into military avionics systems. In a June press release, Helsing, the Munich, Germany-based native software company and Saab, the Swedish defense manufacturer, announced their completion of a series of test flights where Helsing's “Centaur” AI agent controlled the aerial movements of a Gripen E fighter jet. AI agents are growing in popularity across many different industries for a variety of use cases. In a November 2024 blog about the topic, Microsoft described them as taking “the power of generative AI a step further, because
This document recommends design and performance criteria for aircraft lighting systems used to illuminate flight deck controls, luminous visual displays used for transfer of information, and flight deck background and instrument surfaces that form the flight deck visual environment. This document is for aircraft, except for applications requiring night vision compatibility.
Future military missions for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) and next generation Special Operations Forces need an aircraft with effective hover and the ability to operate in transonic cruise. Hover requires significant power that can only be mitigated by larger diameter rotors, but large diameter rotors become a detriment to achieving transonic flight. The stop-fold rotor configuration can “make the rotor disappear” in cruise and stands out as the most viable option for meeting these next-generation air vehicle requirements. This paper discusses the progress Bell has made in developing enabling technologies for a practical and scalable high-speed VTOL (HSVTOL) based on the stop-fold configuration. To this end, a unique Track-Guided Test Vehicle (TGTV) was developed at Bell and tested at the 10-mile High Speed Test Track at Holloman Air Force Base. The test vehicle integrates all subsystems required to demonstrate the key technologies in a representative environment, including multi-mode
This paper presents the development and implementation of a complete flight control architecture for a 200kg-class tilt-wing eVTOL aircraft, designed and tested by Dufour Aerospace. The system enables fully automated flight across all regimes, including hover, transition, and cruise. A modular control architecture is described, incorporating a unified vehicle controller, envelope protection, and a guidance system. The control design leverages classical and modern techniques, including model-based synthesis, control allocation, and gain scheduling. A structured software development and validation pipeline is outlined, combining simulation, software- and hardware- in-the-loop testing, and flight testing on both subscale and full-scale platforms. Results from recent autonomous flight trials of the Aero2 aircraft demonstrate precise trajectory tracking and robust performance. The presented approach highlights the feasibility of rapid development cycles while maintaining high standards of
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