Comparative Analysis of Next Generation Aircraft Data Networks

Aircraft have many sensors and modules scattered throughout their fuselage. Due to the ever-increasing sensor load (radar, electronic warfare, radio, camera, etc.), aircraft need more bandwidth and higher broadband communication backbones. Legacy protocols such as ARINC-429 and MIL-STD-1553 used in the communication of these modules are insufficient to meet the increased bandwidth requirements of today’s aircraft. However, these legacy networks are highly reliable and deterministic, as avionics systems require. For this reason, different technologies have been developed without losing their quality of service and suitability for critical systems. Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX) protocol, a special application of ARINC-664 Part 7, patented by Airbus, has come to the fore in recent years. Another prominent solution is the Time-Triggered Ethernet (TTEthernet) protocol, patented by TTTech. This paper compares these two protocols from the avionics perspective with a simulation model in OMNET++ and outlooks the new generation avionics networks.