Advanced avionics system architecture

Abstract

The Collins Advanced Avionics System Architecture uses an increased amount of integration to provide an unprecedented level of functional capability, fault tolerance and flexibility, as well as on-board diagnostic aids and other features designed to reduce crew work load and enhance the availability of system functions. Large format liquid crystal flight displays (LCD) and cursor control devices with voice activation integrate the display and control of system functions. This lessens crew work load while reducing the number of system displays and controls, providing a more intuitive cockpit. Functional processing is accomplished in an integrated processing center (IPC) using standardized modules and virtual machine/partitioned processing and field-loadable software. This provides a flexible, cost effective, reusable architecture with inherent growth capability and true software mobility. The digital communication network achieves total connectivity among all subsystems. The connectivity is accomplished with data concentrators for legacy equipment and high speed digital local area network hubs for internal IPC data, IPC to IPC communication, and interface to other high data rate users. This significantly reduces system latencies, cross cockpit wiring and individual I/O connections.