Avionics and Aircraft Computer Systems

Aircraft Data buses

A.R. Roamio Franklin Group 3, 09005574

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 Data Bus the name defined Data Bus (Transferred from one place to other
through specific components).as systems on aircraft became progressively more
digital in nature, it is become apparent to avionic designers that a multiplexed bus
system was required to enable all subsystems to be connected by only one set of
wires. The history of the Data Bus is as follows:

D ATA BU SES
1970 MIL-STD-
1553

1983 ARINC 429

1990 ARINC
629,659
2000 ARINC 664 or
AFDX

Figure 1 DATA BUSES HISTORY

According to the above picture in1973 MIL-STD- 1553 is the first data bus
used in military aircrafts. This is the first computer system to enter cockpit to satisfy
exact requirements of the aircrafts. These systems become great advantage to today
pilots and maintenance crew. These data bus systems are helping in trouble
shootings and snags that occur even before they ever even take place.

In 1983 ARINC 429 was released by developing commercial aviation digital

communication. This ARINC 429 describes how avionics systems communicate on
commercial aircrafts. In ARINC 429 multiple transmitters and receivers are
communicating on different buses. In a 429 system single transmitter connected to
from 1-20 receivers. The transmission range in ARINC 429 is lowest speed is 12.5
kHz and highest speed is 100 kHz. These systems are collectively called LRUs (Line
Replacement Units). LRUs provide high reliable transfer of data.

The data transmission from LRU is combination of 32 words containing a 24

bit data portion containing the actual information and an 8bit label describing the
data itself. In 429 data transmission carried through specified resistance (Generally
78 Ὠ) shielded twisted pair cable. The maximum length is not specified as it is
dependent on the number of receivers and transmitters.

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 In general most of the systems are designed for under 150 feet but conditions
permitting, can extend to 300 feet and beyond. As mentioned above the transmitting
data from single source on the bus to up to 20 receivers and the transmitter is
always transmitting data.

The ARINC429 messages contain only one data word consisting of Binary,
Binary Coded Decimal or alphanumeric data encoded using alphabet. ARINC 429
data words are 32 bit words divided in five primary fields. The primary fields are:

 Parity –I bit
 Sign/Status Matrix (SSM) – 2 bits
 Data -19 bits
 Source/Destination Identifier (SDI) – 2 bits
 Label – 8 bits

MSB LSB

3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
P SSM MSB DATA LSB SDI LABLE
Figure 2 ARINC 429 32 Bit Word Forma

According to the above figure the only definitely required two fields are Label and the
Parity bit because these two fields required 23 bits for higher resolution data
representation.

In ARINC 429 the Most Significant Bit (MSB) of the data word as the Parity Bit. In
this system odd parity as an error check to insure accurate data reception and this
system specifies no means of error correction, only error detection. SSM
(Sign/Status Matrix) field can be used to indicate sign or direction of the words data
or report source equipment operating status and is dependent on the data type. The
data type used in SSM is Binary Coded Decimal Data. The data transfer in ARINC
429 is first Label, SDI, Data, SSM and P, these transfer data is received by LRU and
translate the data and regrouping of bits into proper order.

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 Figure 3 ARINC 429 Installed LRU

ARINC 629: ARINC 629 specifications defines a digital communication

system, where LRUs (Line Replacement Unit terminals connected to the network)
may transmit and receive digital data using a standard protocol. This system is
introduced with the increasing demands for the information exchange between
aircraft systems necessitated development of high speed, high reliability
communication data buses. The Developed ARINC 629 is a high speed bi-
directional bus capable of either periodic or aperiodic transmissions. This system is
work by distributed control bus capable of supporting up to 120 users at a
transmission rate of 2 Mbps (Mega Bytes per second) and activated by 15 V DC
Power. The length of the cable is up to 40 meters. As like ARINC 429 an ARINC
629 message has variable length up to 31 words. Each message contains periodic
data and Aperiodic data. The advantages of this system is real time properties and
fault tolerance properties.

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 Figure 4 ARINC 629 Installed LRU used in Boeing 777

ARINC 629 is used in Boeing 777. The disadvantage with this system is
service delays will form the most significant part of overall end –to –end message
delays. The ARINC 629 is used to provide an efficient data distribution system
resulting in a reduction in amount of airplane wiring and equipment interfaces.

AFDX (Avionics Full Duplex Switched Ethernet): AFDX is another standard of

ARINC 664. This system transfer data with 2Mbit//s and allowing terminals up to 120.
Exclusively AIRBUS Industries develop this system. the main disadvantage of this
system is it required standard hardware which can add large cost to the aircraft, with
this reason more aircraft manufacturing companies not adapting this system.

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 Figure 5AFDX System Source: ARINC

In above figure

Avionics subsystems are: FCC (Flight Control Computer), GPS (Global Positioning
System), and Tire pressure monitoring system. AFDX End system always connected
with Avionics subsystems by enabling them to communicate with each other through
a simple message interface. AFDX interconnect is a full duplex switched Ethernet
interconnect. This Ethernet technology is a departure from the traditional ARINC 429
Unidirectional, point-to-point technology and the MIL-STD-1553 bus technology.

Figure 6 AFDX

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Data Buses Specification Used in Advantages Disadvantage
MIL-STD-1553  Single wire BUS  F-16, F-18 and  First Data bus in  the weight is
 Frequency 1 F-20 Fighter Aviation sector more
MHZ Aircrafts
 Resistsnce70-80
Ώ
ARINC 429  Two wire data  Boeing 757 and  It makes  Limited for few
bus 767 aircrafts possible for aircrafts
 Data transfer Boeing 757 and  A little more
speed 100 Kbit/s 767 aircrafts to weight added to
 Creates 32 bit have a simplified cockpit
length data word system of
 Resistance 78Ώ operation.
 It allows digital
components the
ability to function
in safer method
ARINC 629  first fly by wire  Boeing 777  First fly-by-wire  Limited for few
created by by Boeing aircrafts
Boeing company company
 Required power  Light in weight
15V DC
 Data transfer
speed 2Mbits/s

AFDX(  Powered by  Airbus a380  Light in weight  Optical Fibber

Ethernet  Airbus 350  High-speed defects
 Airbus A400M
 Modern Data Bus Transfer data detecting is
 Boeing 787 Dream difficult.
liner
 Used in all
Modern Aircrafts
Figure 7 Difference between Aircraft Data buses
Reference:

Books;

 BSc Aircraft Engineering Course notes

 Aircraft maintenance Manual of Airbus A319/20/21 and Boeing
737
Websites:
 Boeing.com
 airbus.com
 arinc.com
My Personnel Avionics experience