Model Based Testing of Aircraft Interfaces

Abstract

Validation and verification of systems integrated in an aircraft is one of the most challenging step in design and testing. There are various systems in the aircraft such as air vehicle systems; power plant system, fuel system, hydraulic system, environmental control systems, flight control systems, fire protection system, ice detection systems, landing gears, avionics, mission and electrical systems. All systems include various sensors and interfaces to provide the flight. Aircraft includes various sensors such as temperature, pressure, force, position, level and electrical sensors providing voltage, current or resistance electrical signal outputs. In integrated architecture of the aircraft, a remote input output unit, RID manages all these interfaces and converts the data to digital format via a digital bus such as MIL STD 1553 and ARINC 429 in order to provide all the information to provide deterministic system response for a safe flight. In this paper new approaches, models and tools to test RIU integrated in HURJET aircraft will be defined. Outputs of the tests will be evaluated. Required test solution in the test design are sensor models, sensors, RIU, avionics controller and test equipment and software. Sensor simulation environment provides modeling of the avionics and helps to test the system evaluating the integration before the aircraft ground and flight tests. Test system converts the sensor models into analog signals and sends the converted electrical signals to the RIU inputs. Digital signals including MIL STD 1553 and ARINC 429 interfaces are modelled and send to RIU and RIU outputs are monitored and evaluated in a test scenario.