Aircraft Avionics Logical Separation for Independent Certification

Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft avionics systems with training and tactical functionality face high costs and delays due to the need for repeated certification of mission systems, which also jeopardize the 'safe to fly' designation when updated.

Innovation Solution

The system is partitioned to logically separate mission and civil functionalities, allowing independent updates and certification of the mission system with lower regulatory levels, ensuring the aircraft maintains 'safe to fly' status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the mission system is updated frequently to meet new tactical requirements, then the adaptability and training effectiveness are improved, but the certification cost and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactical functionality update capabilityVSAvoidcertification time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The avionics system is divided into two independent parts: a civil system that maintains certification and a mission system that can be updated freely. This segmentation allows the mission system to be modified without triggering recertification of the entire aircraft, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and certification time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mission system is extracted and separated from the civil avionics system. By taking out the tactical/mission functionality as a distinct, independent subsystem, updates to this extracted portion do not affect the certified civil system, enabling frequent updates without certification delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the mission system is updated frequently to meet new tactical requirements, then the adaptability and training effectiveness are improved, but the certification cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetactical functionality update capabilityVSAvoidcertification cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The avionics system is divided into two independent parts: a civil system that maintains certification and a mission system that can be updated freely. This segmentation allows the mission system to be modified without triggering recertification of the entire aircraft, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and certification time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mission system is extracted and separated from the civil avionics system. By taking out the tactical/mission functionality as a distinct, independent subsystem, updates to this extracted portion do not affect the certified civil system, enabling frequent updates without certification delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the mission system and civil system are integrated, then the system complexity is reduced, but the ability to update mission system independently is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem integration levelVSAvoidindependent update capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The avionics system is divided into two independent parts: a civil system that maintains certification and a mission system that can be updated freely. This segmentation allows the mission system to be modified without triggering recertification of the entire aircraft, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and certification time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8538603B2Aircraft avionics system

Publication Date: 2013.09.17 PILATUS FLUGZEUGWERKE

AI summary

An aircraft avionics system (10) for an aircraft, comprising includes a mission system (2), controlled by an open systems mission computer with a tactical communications system (320) and a tactical navigation system (220), The avionics system also includes a civil system (I), controlled by a flight management system with a civil communications system (310) and a civil navigation system (210), The mission system (2) is logically separated from the civil system (I) through separation of a navigation system (20) of the aircraft into a civil navigation system (210) and a tactical navigation system (220), and through separation of a communications system (30) of the aircraft (100) into the tactical communications system (320) and the civil communications system (310), and through the independence of the open systems mission computer from the flight management system, The separation allows the civil system (I) to operate and be updated independently from the mission system (2).