Chapter 1
Introduction
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Introduction
• Avionics = Aviation + Electronics
• Aviation: Design, development, production, and operation and use of
aircrafts
• Latin word: “Avis”, which means bird
• Electronics: Deals with electrical circuits that involve electrical
components such as diodes, transistors, amplifiers, etc.
• Avionics systems: Any system in the aircraft that depends on
electronics for its operation
• Can you name a few examples?
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Example
• Fly-by-wire flight control system:
Depends on computers for its
effective operation. Consists of:
• Computers
• Electromechanical devices:
Examples:
• Rate gyros
• Accelerometers
• Air data sensors
• Pilot control stick
• Electrohydraulic servo actuators:
Controls the angular positions of
the control surfaces
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Cost of avionics
• How much do you think avionics cost?
• About 30% of the total cost of the aircraft for modern civil or military
aircraft
• Example:
• List price of Boeing 787-8 is $239 million dollars
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Drivers for development and introduction of
avionics systems
• Avionics systems are essential to carry out the aircraft mission safely
and efficiently for both civil and military aircrafts
• Meet the mission requirements with the minimum flight crew
• Reduce the workload of the pilots by automating tasks. Earlier aircrafts
had: Flight engineer responsibilities:
• Pilot - Monitors and operates aircraft
• Flight engineer systems
• Navigator and radar operator: Responsible for - Diagnose and eliminate any faults
navigation (determining location of aircraft) - Sets and adjusts engine power
during takeoff, cruise, climb
• Wireless operator: Operates wireless transmitter - Monitors other systems such as:
• Bomb aimer, gunner Fuel, pressurization, fire and
overheat, cooling system, and many
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• Meet safety and performance requirements:
• Enhance safety and operation under all weather conditions
• Meet air traffic control requirements
• Reduce fuel consumption
• Enhance performance and control of aircraft
• Reduce maintenance costs
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Core avionic systems
Interact directly with the pilot
• Displays: Provide visual interface
between the pilot and the aircraft
systems
• Heads up displays (HUDs)
• Head down displays (HDDs)
• Helmet mounted displays (HMDs)
• HUD and HMD:
• Project the display of information
into the pilot's field of view
• Pilot can concentrate on the outside
world
• HDD: Multifunction displays. Shows
information such as: Height, airspeed,
Mach number, weather data, engine
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Avionics Terms
• Housekeeping management: Controls background tasks
• Brightness of displays
• Hydraulics and pressurization
• Fuel management
• Electric power management
• Warning systems
• Navigation systems management:
• Controls operation of all navigation systems
• Provides aircraft location and speed
• Communications (radio systems):
• Need reliable two-way communication between the ground bases and the aircraft
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Avionics Terms Contd.
• Autopilot and flight management system (FMS):
• Flight planning
• Path optimization
• Engine control to maintain speed
• Minimize fuel consumption
• Engine control and management:
• Controls and maintains engines
• Ensures that engine’s temperature, speed, acceleration, does not exceed limits (engine
health monitoring)
• Infrared sensors: Used for navigation and safety, collision avoidance, weather
monitoring, target tracking
• Radar: Weather monitoring, detecting turbulence, collision avoidance, etc.
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Rudder Foreplane
Leading (canard)
edge flap
Foreplane
Elevon
(canard)
Leading
edge flap
Elevon
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The avionic environment
• Avionic systems equipment is very different in many ways from ground-
based equipment carrying similar functions. Why?
• Very important to achieve minimum weight:
• 10:1 effect: Weight saving of 10 kg enables increase of 100 kg in payload
• Increase in avionics system weight requires stronger aircraft structure and thus more material
and more fuel.
• Aircraft will be operating in difficult environmental conditions
• Temperature range
• Acceleration
• Shock
• Vibration
• Humidity
• The importance of very high reliability, safety , and integrity
• Space constraints particularly in military aircraft.
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