Modern Avionics Architectures
Tim Etherington, Rockwell-Collins
This tutorial is an updated version of Cary Spitzer’s long-running course of the same name. Architectures from various civil and military aircraft are examined with comparisons of hardware and avionics functions of each discussed in detail. The tutorial presents key architecture and design challenges for legacy as well as new aircraft. These architectures have been carefully chosen to cover the following:
- Broad spectrum of aircraft types
- Federated and integrated designs
- Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) vis-à-vis modular packaging
- Impact of the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) on architecture
- Range of non-essential to flight critical applications