A novel data communication network architecture for integrated modular avionics

Abstract

With advanced avionics developing, the tendency of modularization, flexibility, interoperability, high bandwidth, and hard real time is much more obvious. Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) need an available network interconnection architecture to integrate the distributed and disordered modular elements of IMA systems. Avionics Full Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX), as a communication protocol, specifies a certain time-deterministic method applicable to real-time and safe communications. And Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), as a transmission mechanism, supports high bandwidth to collect and distribute different signals independently. Therefore, this paper establishes an AFDX over WDM communication architecture to handle realtime traffic in IMA networks. Then we divide the architecture into four major parts to depict basic design concept. Finally, we generalize the merit and adaptability of this novel communication architecture in avionics.