AFDX Switch Research Articles

Performance analysis of AFDX switch for space onboard data networks

Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX) is designed for deterministic communications in avionics sensor networks embedded in large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787. This paper proposes to apply the AFDX concept to the space domain, since there are increasing requirements to develop a similar system in spacecraft. In this paper, the AFDX switch is comprehensively studied and analyzed to tailor the standard for applicability to the space domain. The evaluation results show that AFDX can be efficiently adapted for space onboard data networks to provide deterministic communications even in asynchronous and high-traffic networks.

Designing of Avionics Full Duplex Switch on Netfpga

Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet Network(AFDX), Originally The Word Avionics is the combination of the Aviation and electronics, which is defined as electronics of aircrafts, artificial satellites and spacecrafts. MIL-1553 as its communication protocol for projects. But MIL-1553 communication is half duplex, asynchronous and works at 1 Mbps which may not be able to cater to the future communication performance requirements of bandwidth and maintainability. So a need exists to improve bandwidth, reliability and maintainability while reducing the physical dimensions of size, weight and number of connectors. A new network infrastructure is needed to provide more flexibility in avionics system design and cope with the increasing number of interconnections between systems. In this work an 8 -port AFDX switch has been designed on NET FPGA to form a deterministic network. This network can connect all the AFDX End systems through AFDX switches via Virtual links. Finally the link utilizes the data speed of 100Mbps full-duplex switched Ethernet according to ARINC-664P7. Main advantage of this work is redundancy.It can be achieved at output of end-system and complexity of the network can be reduced. The tools are used - for synthesis Xilinx Vivado 2014.4, xilinx 14.6 ise simulator for simulating and the packet flow at end-system can be captured by Wire-shark software. Keyword: Arinc 664p7, Mil-1553,Net Fpga,Afdx

Optimal Configuration of Virtual Links for Avionics Network Systems

As the bandwidth and scalability constraints become important design concerns in airborne networks, a new technology, called Avionics Full Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX), has been introduced and standardized as a part 7 in ARNIC 664. However, since previous research interests for AFDX are mainly bounded for analyzing the response time where flows information is given, configuration problem for both Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) and Bandwidth Allocation Gap (BAG) over virtual links in AFDX networks has not been addressed yet even though it has great impact on required bandwidth. Thus, in this paper, we present two configuration approaches to set MTU and BAG values on virtual links efficiently while meeting the requirement of AFDX. The first is to search available feasible configuration (MTU, BAG) pairs to satisfy application requirements as well as AFDX switch constraints, and the second is to get an optimal pair to minimize required bandwidth through well-known branch-and-bound algorithm. We analyze the complexity of the proposed algorithm and then evaluate the proposed algorithm by simulation. Finally, we prove that the proposed schemes are superior to general approach in the aspects of speed and required bandwidth in AFDX networks.

Design and Analysis of AFDX Network Based High-Speed Avionics System of Civil Aircraft

Avionics Full Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX) standardized as ARINC 664 is a major upgrade for integrated avionics systems of civil aircraft. It becomes the current communication technology in the context of avionics and provides a backbone network for the civil avionics system. This paper focuses on features of AFDX network protocol. Architecture of AFDX switch based on shared memory is proposed to meet the requirements of avionics real-time system. In addition, frame filtering, traffic policing and frame schedule function are used to eliminate uncertainties in huge traffic flows. End System (ES) host-target architecture is also researched in this paper. Virtual link scheduler, redundancy management, and protocol stack in ES are designed to ensure determinism and reliability of data communication. AFDX switch and ES have been successfully developed, and configuration tool, ARINC 615A loader and simulation tool related to AFDX network are also provided as package solution to support avionics system construction. Finally, AFDX switch and ESes have passed ARINC 664 protocol conformance test and certification, the test results show that our AFDX products meet the requirements of real-time communication, determinism and reliability defined in ARINC 664