Avionics Software Defined Radio Priority Arbitration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current avionics systems with dedicated equipment are costly, heavy, and inefficient in terms of space and power usage, and often carry redundant components to ensure function availability and continuity throughout flight phases, which burdens aircraft resources.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of software defined radios (SDRs) with configurable avionics function implementation circuitry and a priority arbitrator that reconfigures SDRs to meet mission requirements for each phase of flight, minimizing the number of avionics components and ensuring high assurance and regulatory compliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dedicated pieces of equipment are used to perform avionics functions, then function availability and continuity are ensured, but equipment cost, weight, volume, and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction availabilityVSAvoidequipment weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements software-defined radios (SDRs) that can perform multiple avionics functions through software configuration rather than dedicated hardware for each function. The SDR platform provides a universal base that can be programmed to execute different communication, navigation, and surveillance functions as needed, replacing multiple dedicated equipment pieces with a single multi-functional system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically reconfigures the SDR platform based on flight phase and mission requirements. The arbitrator component adjusts which functions are active and how resources are allocated in real-time, allowing the system to adapt its functionality rather than maintaining static dedicated equipment configurations throughout the flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If redundant equipment is carried to meet function availability requirements, then reliability is improved, but aircraft infrastructure resources are burdened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction availabilityVSAvoidequipment redundancy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of carrying redundant dedicated equipment for different functions, the patent uses a universal SDR platform that can dynamically assume different functional roles. The same hardware resources can be allocated to different functions as needed, eliminating the need for parallel redundant equipment while maintaining function availability through software-based resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (software configurations, resource allocation settings) to adapt the SDR platform for different functions rather than relying on physical redundancy. The arbitrator modifies system parameters in real-time to ensure function availability without requiring duplicate hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple dedicated pieces of equipment are used, then function availability is ensured, but space and cooling air requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction availabilityVSAvoidequipment volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple dedicated equipment functions into a single integrated SDR platform. By combining communication, navigation, and surveillance capabilities into one physical system, the overall equipment volume is reduced while maintaining all necessary functions through software-based resource allocation and time-division multiplexing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The universal SDR platform replaces multiple dedicated equipment pieces, reducing the total volume required in the aircraft. The same hardware resources are shared across different functions through software configuration, eliminating the need for separate physical equipment for each avionics function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Weight of stationary object

If software defined radios are used instead of dedicated equipment, then cost, weight, and space are reduced, but resource allocation and function management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment weightVSAvoidresource allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an arbitrator component as an intermediary that manages resource allocation and function prioritization for the SDR platform. This mediator component handles the complexity of dynamic resource allocation, function switching, and priority-based resource assignment, shielding the underlying complexity from the operational system while enabling efficient SDR resource management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7941248B1Method and apparatus for implementing and managing avionics functions

Publication Date: 2011.05.10 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

An avionics system including a software defined radio (SDR) is provided. The SDR includes configurable avionics function implementation circuitry configured to implement each of multiple avionics functions. Also included in the SDR is a priority arbitrator. The priority arbitrator is configured to receive priority control parameters and, based on a make-up of the received priority control parameters, responsively direct the configurable avionics function implementation circuitry to implement a particular priority-based subset (less than all) of the multiple avionics functions.