Reconfigurable Avionics Mounting with Universal Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of new avionics devices into existing aerospace systems is challenging due to compatibility issues with disparate devices and protocols, requiring time-consuming and costly verification processes.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable avionics mounting system with a housing containing communication and power supply circuitry, featuring orthogonal slots for versatile device mounting and standard interface ports for easy integration and data communication, reduces the complexity and cost of system integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new avionics devices are integrated into existing aerospace systems using traditional methods, then system functionality is improved, but system integration complexity and verification time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting unit is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple types of avionics devices through standardized mechanical mounting interfaces and electrical connectors. The unit provides common power supply circuitry and communication interfaces that work with various avionics devices, eliminating the need for custom integration solutions for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting unit serves as an intermediary component between the aircraft structure and avionics devices. It provides standardized mechanical mounting interfaces and electrical connections that mediate between the aircraft's existing infrastructure and diverse avionics devices, simplifying integration by handling compatibility requirements at the mounting unit level rather than requiring complex point-to-point integration verification.
2Reliability
If comprehensive compatibility verification is performed for each new avionics device with existing systems, then system reliability is improved, but integration time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting unit incorporates pre-configured power supply circuitry, communication interfaces, and mounting mechanisms that are designed beforehand to be compatible with multiple avionics device types. This preliminary preparation of standardized interfaces eliminates the need for time-consuming compatibility verification during actual device integration, as the mounting unit already embodies the necessary compatibility provisions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple disparate avionics devices with different interfaces are integrated, then system functionality is improved, but weight and complexity of connection infrastructure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting unit merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: mechanical mounting, power supply, communication interfacing, and signal routing. By combining these functions into one unit rather than using separate components for each function, the overall weight and complexity of the connection infrastructure is reduced while still supporting multiple diverse avionics devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An avionics mounting unit includes a housing with a first mounting interface to couple the housing to a structure of an aircraft and a second mounting interface to couple an avionics device to the housing. The second mounting interface includes slots oriented orthogonal to each other and extending to sides of the housing such that the avionics device can be installed via the slots from any of four sides of the housing. The avionics mounting unit also includes communication circuitry, power supply circuitry, one or more avionics device interface ports, and one or more aircraft interface ports. The avionics device interface port(s) are configured to provide power to the avionics device and configured to enable data communications with the avionics device. The aircraft interface port(s) are configured to receive power from the aircraft and to enable data communications between other aircraft systems and the avionics device.