Radar Data Compression Unit for EFB Bandwidth Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing communication protocols, such as ARINC 429, are inadequate for real-time transmission of high-speed radar information from radar systems to electronic flight bags (EFBs) due to bandwidth limitations, resulting in delayed and unusable radar weather images for aircraft personnel.
Innovation Solution
A radar data compression unit processes radar information from radar systems into a low-bandwidth format compatible with EFBs, allowing for efficient communication over low-bandwidth connections, such as the ARINC 429 standard, and includes a decompression unit to restore the data for display purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If radar information is transmitted using ARINC 429 protocol, then compatibility with EFB devices is achieved, but real-time transmission capability is lost due to bandwidth limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The radar data stream is segmented into multiple channels, with different data types (weather radar, terrain, navigation) assigned to different ARINC 429 channels. This allows parallel transmission of multiple data streams simultaneously, maximizing the utilization of available bandwidth while maintaining compatibility with EFB devices that expect standard ARINC 429 formatted data
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts data transmission parameters including word format (32-bit vs 64-bit), data rate (100 kHz vs 12.5 kHz), and channel allocation based on the specific EFB device capabilities and current radar data volume requirements, optimizing transmission efficiency within ARINC 429 constraints
2Speed
If high-speed ARINC 453 radar data is transmitted directly, then real-time radar information is available, but compatibility with low-bandwidth ARINC 429 connectors is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A data conversion intermediary device is introduced between the ARINC 453 radar system and the ARINC 429 EFB connector. This intermediary performs real-time data formatting conversion, packet assembly, and protocol translation, enabling high-speed radar data to be transmitted through low-bandwidth ARINC 429 connectors while maintaining data integrity and real-time performance
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple ARINC 429 data channels are merged and multiplexed into a unified data stream that carries consolidated radar information. This combining approach reduces the total number of required connectors and simplifies the interface architecture while maintaining compatibility with standard EFB devices
3Quantity of substance
If data compression is applied to reduce bandwidth requirements, then transmission over low-bandwidth connections becomes feasible, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies selective compression only to specific data elements that benefit most from it, such as compressing weather radar echo data while maintaining full resolution for navigation and terrain data. This partial application of compression reduces overall data volume transmitted over ARINC 429 without requiring complex compression algorithms across all data types, thereby limiting the increase in processing complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A radar information processing system is operable to process high bandwidth radar information received from a radar system (114) into low bandwidth radar information that may be communicated to a low bandwidth connection coupled to an electronic flight bag (EFB) (116). An exemplary embodiment receives radar information from a radar system (114), the radar information communicated from the radar system (114) at a first bandwidth; processes the received radar information into processed radar information, the processed radar information configured for communication over a connection operable at a second bandwidth, the second bandwidth lower than the first bandwidth; and communicates the radar information from the radar system (114), the radar information communicated from the radar system (114) at a first bandwidth.