AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS & AVIONICS
21AE62
Module-5
Syllabus
Flight Deck and Cockpits:
Control and display technologies: CRT, LED, LCD, EL and plasma panel, Touch
screen, Direct voice input (DVI), MFDS, HUD,MFK,HOTAS.
Avionics Systems Integration:
Avionics equipment fit
Electrical data bus system
Communication Systems
Navigation systems
Electronic Warfare and fire control system
Data buses
MIL STD1553B
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References
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andAviation
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What is Avionics?
Avionics is a combination of two terms: aviation and electronics. In simple terms, it is the electronic
systems used in aircraft (also in spacecraft and artificial satellites).
The seven basic systems that make up modern avionics:
• Navigation: Avionics systems use satellites like WAAS or GPS, to help pilots determine their position
above the earth’s surface.
• Communications: The communications system, being one of the most essential components of avionics,
connects pilots to ground crew and authorities.
• Weather systems: They warn pilots about excessive precipitation, turbulence, and other harsh weather
conditions. As a result, pilots can adjust their planes’ altitude to keep a safe flight path.
• Monitoring systems: They include gauges, dials, and other similar instruments that evolved in a more
computer-based system instead of manual models in older aircraft.
• Fuel system: Every aircraft needs fuel systems that calculate the remaining fuel and manage other
related tasks to ensure efficient fuel usage.
• Collision avoidance and traffic alert: This technology detects other aircraft and alerts pilots about
possible collisions. It comes with software that provides instructions after seeing potential accidents
and ground-proximity warning systems for additional safety.
• Flight control: Flight control was initially used in bomber planes to keep them steady during an air raid,
it evolved to prevent pilot error, especially during landing and takeoff. 4
Avionics but what else is left to do?
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General Avionics System Architecture
A general avionics system architecture can be broken down into
several key components:
1. Sensors and Subsystems
2. Data Acquisition and Processing Units (DAPU)
3. Avionics Bus
4. Mission/Flight Management Computers
5. Display Units
6. Control and Input Devices:
7. Power Management System
8. Communication Management Unit (CMU)
Important Considerations:
Redundancy: Avionics systems are designed with redundancy in
critical components to ensure continued operation even if one
unit fails.
Safety: Strict safety standards are followed in the design and
certification of avionics systems to minimize the risk of
accidents.
Open Architecture: Modern avionics systems are increasingly
adopting open architecture principles, allowing for easier
system upgrades and integration of new technologies. 7
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Flight Deck and Cockpits
A typical modern airliner flight deck has the following key components:
• Primary Flight Display (PFD): This is the main instrument panel in front of the pilot,
displaying critical flight information such as attitude, altitude, airspeed, heading, and engine
data.
• Multi-Function Display (MFD): This is a secondary display that can show a variety of
information depending on the situation, such as navigation maps, weather information,
checklists, and system alerts.
• Head-Up Display (HUD): This projects essential flight information onto a transparent screen
in the pilot's line of sight, allowing them to keep their eyes on the outside world while still
having access to critical data.
• Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS): It provides real-time data on engine
parameters (temperatures, pressures, fuel flow) and alerts the crew of any malfunctions or
system anomalies.
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Cockpit - Evolution
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General Requirements for a Cockpit Display System - FAA
• Simplicity – Information should be presented simply and in a well-organized manner.
• Logical grouping – Data items on a screen should be grouped on the basis of some logical
principle.
• Minimal movement – Screens should be designed to minimize eye movement.
• Prioritized information display – The information to be displayed should be prioritized so that
the most important or critical information can be displayed all the time, and less important or
critical information can be displayed upon s user’s request.
• Consistent screen structure – Screens throughout a system shall have a consistent structure
that is evident to users.
• Instructions and error messages – Instructions and error messages shall appear in a
consistent location on the screen.
• Action history – If appropriate, an application shall maintain a summary of the transactions
that produced the current context and display it at a user’s request.
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Display System: CRT
A cathode ray tube (CRT) is a display device which uses an electron beam to energize a
phosphorescent coating. The beam is generated at one end of an evacuated glass tube and
controlled by electrostatic and/or electromagnetic fields to strike the coating at the other end,
where light emitted when electrons strike the phosphor constitute the display.
Advantages
• They operate at any resolution, geometry and aspect ratio
without the need for rescaling the image.
• CRTs run at the highest pixel resolutions generally available.
• Produce a very dark black and the highest contrast levels normally
available. Suitable for use even in dimly lit or dark environments.
Disadvantages
• The CRT's Gaussian beam profile produces images with softer
edges that are not as sharp as an LCD at its native resolution.
• Subject to geometric distortion and screen regulation problems.
• Affected by magnetic fields from other equipment including other
CRTs.
• Some CRTs have a rounded spherical or cylindrical shape screen.
Newer CRTs are flat. 12
Display System: LCD
Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) have replaced CRT displays
since the mid 1990s.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) has liquid crystal material
sandwiched between two sheets of glass. When there is
no applied voltage between transparent electrodes,
liquid crystal molecules are aligned in parallel with the
glass surface. When voltage is applied, they change
their direction and they turn vertical to the glass
surface. They vary in optical characteristics, depending
on their orientation and can thus generate images.
LCD panels used in aircraft are subject to more stringent
requirements as compared to other applications. These
include resistance to extreme temperatures, pressures,
vibrations, etc.
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Display System: LED
Light Emitting Diodes can be used as general purpose
indicators. It operates by a smaller voltages and currents. It is
more reliable when compared to the filament lamps. The
current avionic displays are using LCDs with Light Emitting
Diode (LED) Backlight assemblies. The quality of the cockpit
display unit is highly determined by the quality of the
backlight unit. LEDs improve service life, reliability, touch
temperature, reduce power consumption, reduce weight and
reduce maintenance costs. LEDs and the miniaturization of
electronics allows new brightness control architectures that
reduce weight, part count, and address the historical problem
of brightness mismatch between panels.
Another use of LED is the Head-Up Display (HUD) and night
vision displays.
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Display System: Electro Luminescent Display
It is a type of display created by sandwiching a layer
electroluminescent material (GaAs) between two
layers of conductors. When current flows, the layer
of material emits radiation, in the form of visible
light. It is a result of radiative recombination of
electrons and holes in a material. The excited
electrons release their energy as photons. Prior to
recombination the electrons and holes can be
separated by doping.
This electroluminescent devices are fabricated using
thin films of either organic (It emits light in response
to an electric current) or of inorganic materials. The
thin film layers contain bulk semiconductor and a
dopant which defines the visible colour emitted.
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Display System: Plasma Display
It is a type of flat panel display. This display utilizes small cells containing electrically charged
ionized gases which is shown in figure 3.12 (Xenon or Neon gas). The xenon and neon gas in a
plasma television is contained in hundreds of thousands of tiny cells positioned between two
plates of glass. Long electrodes are also sandwiched between the glass plates, on both sides of
the cells.
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Display System: Touch Screen
A touch screen is an interactive display that lets users use a pen or finger to interact with a computer.
They're a practical substitute for a mouse or keyboard using a GUI.
Types of Touch screen technologies
i) Resistive Touch screen
ii) Surface acoustic wave
iii) Capacitive Touch screen panel
iv) Optical Imaging
v) Dispersive Signal Technology
vi) Acoustic pulse Recognition
Touch screens 3 basic components:
• Touch Sensor - A clear glass panel with a touch responsive surface such that the responsive area of the
panel covers the viewable area.
• Controller - A small PC card that connects between the touch sensor & the PC. Controller takes
information from touch sensor and transmits it to the PC. It is usually installed inside the monitor.
• Software Driver - It is a software that allows the touch screen and computer to work together by
providing the Operating system with instruction on how to interpret the touch event information that
is sent from the controller. 17
Direct voice input (DVI)
DVI allows a single crew member to interface
with an aircraft through speech commands in
high workload situations.
The Eurofighter Typhoon provides direct
voice input (DVI) command control for non
mission-critical functions such as
communications equipment. The DVI speech
has a vocabulary of about 100 words. The DVI
system is trained by the individual user to
function under all operational conditions
including high-g maneuvers and low-speed
passes with significant wind buffet. Direct
voice input (DVI) has a response time of 200
ms and 95% recognition capability is claimed.
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Glass Cockpit
A glass cockpit is a cockpit where flight data is shown on Electronic Flight Displays (EFDs) rather
than separate gauges for each instrument. Examples of EFDs are the Primary Flight Display
(PFD) which combines data from several instruments and is the pilot's primary source of flight
information and the multi-function display (MFD) which allows data to be presented on
multiple pages that are convenient to switch between. Another common name for these
displays is Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS).
Glass cockpits offer various benefits:
• Values are easier to read both due to the lack of parallax errors and the use of precise
numerical values.
• Flight display takes less space and is still able to show more information.
• Electronic displays are linked to computers which allows data from multiple sources to be
processed.
• Different layers of information can be presented. This is especially helpful for the horizontal
situation display where data for e.g. weather, terrain, airspace and other aircraft can be
displayed thus reducing the risks of entering thunderstorms, CFIT, airspace infringement and
loss of separation.
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MFDS
The Aircraft Multi-Function Display Industry (MFD) is a type
of electronic instrument panel used in modern aircraft that
consolidates multiple flight-critical information sources into
a single display unit. MFDs are designed to improve
situational awareness and reduce pilot workload by
providing critical flight information in a clear and concise
format. MFDs can be found in a variety of aircraft types,
including commercial airliners, business jets, and military
aircraft.
Usually MFDs have multiple softkeys so that the display can
be configured as required. MFDs allow pilots to display their
navigation route, moving map, weather radar, ground
proximity warning system, traffic collision avoidance system
and airport information all on the same screen.
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PFD
A Primary Flight Display or PFD, found in an
aircraft equipped with an Electronic Flight
Instrument System, is the pilot's primary
reference for flight information. The unit
combines the information traditionally displayed
on several electromechanical instruments onto a
single electronic display reducing pilot workload
and enhancing situational awareness.
Most Primary Flight Displays are configured with (1)artificial horizon
a central attitude indicator and flight director (2)pitch and roll
surrounded by other flight parameters. (3)altitude
Convention normally places the airspeed tape on (4)current speed in knots
the left side and the altitude and vertical speed (5)vertical speed in fpm
references on the right. (6)mach number
(7)yaw attitude 21
HUD
Head’s Up display (HUD), is a transparent glass that shows the airplane’s primary information
overlaid on the pilot’s view outside the aircraft. The information is presented in a green color
since this is most sensitive to the eye. Military aircraft, especially fighter jets and attack
helicopters, use them since the pilots need to be focused outside the airplane during their
dogfighting. Commercial aircraft were slower to adopt the technology but most aircraft now
come standard with HUDs.
The information that can be displayed on HUDs has increased over time with the current
versions displaying infrared images, called “enhanced vision systems” (EVS). When enhanced
vision is combined with synthetic vision with the basic HUD content, this is called a combined
vision system, CVS.
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HUD Symbology
HUD symbology provides the pilot with all the flight performance data found head-down
(airspeed, altitude, attitude, heading, etc.). Attitude, heading, and directional guidance are
contact analogue. Other information is presented in a similar format to that found on the PFD.
For the civil airline pilot the most import feature of the HUD is its ability to display the flight
path vector superimposed on the outside world. The flight path vector provides an
instantaneous and intuitive indication of the direction of flight.
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HUD Collimator
The Head-Up Display injects a virtual image of an object into the pilot’s line of sight with the
key attribute of being collimated, or focused at infinity, so that to the pilot the image appears to
be in the same focal plane and be fixed on features of the outside-world scene.
In a practical HUD the image source (a CRT) must be placed out of the line of sight. The
collimating lens focuses the CRT image at infinity and the image is introduced into the pilot’s
line of sight by a semi-reflective plane mirror, known as the combiner, so called because the
pilot sees the HUD image combined with the normal forward view. The combiner is mostly
transmissive (typically better than 90%) to the wide-band daylight-visible spectrum so as not to
degrade the pilot’s view.
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HMD
The field of view of the HUD is a very limited field of view when compared with the total
hemisphere of regard afforded to the pilot in the bubble canopy of a modern fast jet fighter
aircraft, and limited when compared with the field of regard of a modern radar (typically 1200)
and the acquisition cone of modern air-to-air missiles. Helmet-Mounted Displays (HMD)
overcome this limitation. By the use of miniature display technology producing a display for
each eye, combined with accurate head tracking.
HMDs allow off-boresight target cueing by directing the pilot/weapon aimer to look in the
direction of potential targets or threats detected by on-board sensors and/or advised by data
link.
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MFK
Multi-Function Keyboard (MFK) is an avionics
sub system through which the pilot interacts
to configure mission related parameters like
flight plan, airfield database, communication
equipment during initialization and
operation flight phase of mission. It is also
connected to the Multi Function Rotary
switch (MFR). The MFK has a built-in display
unit. The display unit is a pair of LCD based
Colour Graphical Display.
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HOTAS OLD System
Hands-On Throttle And Stick, or HOTAS, describes a control
concept for modern fighter aircraft. It allows the pilot to
perform a number of control functions without removing
hands from the two demand controls. The positioning and
actuation of the switches installed in the controls has to be
designed with great care to meet ergonomic requires for
instinctive finger movements.
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Avionics Equipment Fit
Avionics equipment fit refers to the process of selecting, installing, and integrating the
electronic systems used in an aircraft. It's a crucial aspect of ensuring the safe and efficient
operation of the aircraft.
Factors Affecting Avionics Equipment Fit:
• Aircraft Type and Size
• Regulatory Requirements [Link]
• Mission Profile
• Cost and Budget
Importance of Avionics Equipment Fit:
Safety: Ensuring the aircraft has the necessary equipment for safe navigation, communication,
and collision avoidance.
Efficiency: Optimizing flight operations through efficient navigation and communication
systems.
Performance: Equipping the aircraft with the technology needed to perform its intended
mission effectively.
Compliance: Meeting all regulatory requirements for avionics equipment on board.
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Electrical Data Bus System
There are several electrical serial digital data bus systems in use in avionics systems. These
systems can be broadly divided into two categories in terms of their data rate transmission
capabilities, namely, low speed data bus (ARINC 429, ARINC 629 and MIL STD 1553B) and high
speed data bus based on ‘Ethernet’ data bus (AFDX).
An avionic system is made up of many electronic units that each performs a particular function
needed by the system. These electronic units are usually called LRUs. LRUs typically transfer
digital information among themselves and other systems on serial data buses. LRUs typically
transfer digital information among themselves and other systems on serial data buses.
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Electrical Data Bus Connections
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Communication Systems
Aircraft communication systems to ensure safety, navigation, and operational efficiency.
Radio Communication Frequencies:
Very High Frequency (VHF): Most commonly used 118 MHz to 136 MHz frequency range.
High Frequency (HF): This long-range 3 MHz to 30 MHz frequency range
Ultra High Frequency (UHF): Used for military communication 225 MHz to 400 MHz range.
Navigation and Communication Systems:
VHF Radio: To transmit voice messages to ATC and other aircraft
Mode S: Transmits and receives identification and positioning data
Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B)
Satellite Communication (SATCOM)
Onboard Intercom Systems: Aircraft Interphone System: For voice communication between
crew members within the aircraft
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Electronic Warfare and Fire Control System
Electronic Warfare (EW):
Function: Disrupts, denies, deceives, or destroys the enemy's use of the electromagnetic
spectrum (radio waves, radar, infrared, etc.) for communication, navigation, and targeting.
Techniques: Jamming, Spoofing, Detecting, identifying, and analyzing enemy electronic
emissions.
Fire Control System (FCS):
Function: Aims and guides weapons (guns, missiles) towards a target with high accuracy.
Process: Sensors detect and track the target. FCS computer calculates the target's movement
and predicts its future position. FCS provides aiming adjustments to the weapon platform to
compensate for factors like wind and target movement.
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Electronic Warfare and Fire Control System Components
Electronic warfare (EW) refers to a number of
related subjects across a wide spectrum of
activities:
Electronic countermeasures (ECM)
Electronic support measures (ESM)
Signals intelligence (SIGINT)
Electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM)
Fire Control System
Components:
Sensors (radar, electro-optical)
Computer processing unit
Weapon platform (gun mount, launcher)
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Data Buses
The various blocks are interconnected by a set of wires called “BUS”. The bus is used to transfer
the information in binary form. The bus is also used for connection to the external devices.
There are two types of Buses. The address bus and data bus: The address bus transfers the
address which is required for the selection of the external device and data bus is used for
transfer data.
Avionics data bus replaces the traditional point-to-point wiring method. The data bus acts as a
central communication channel, streamlining data exchange between avionics components.
This reduces weight, complexity, and improves overall system efficiency.
Benefits:
Reduced Weight: Less wiring means a lighter aircraft, leading to better fuel efficiency.
Simplified Maintenance: Easier troubleshooting due to fewer wires and standardized
communication.
Increased Functionality: Efficient data exchange enables advanced features like integrated flight
management systems and centralized monitoring.
Improved Reliability: Reduced wiring complexity lowers the risk of connection failures. Data
integrity checks within the protocol ensure accurate transmission.
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Types of Avionics Data Buses
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MIL-STD 1553B
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