Avionics Systems Research Articles

Framework and tooling proposals for Agile certification of safety-critical embedded software in avionic systems

This article focuses on quality improvement in the development of DO-178C/ED-12C safety-critical software, optimizing development costs through the implementation of a “continuous certification” integral process. We discuss the major problems associated with traditional, V-cycle software development practices, and highlight the many advantages of adopting a “continuous certification” process based on a more Agile approach. The article proposes a framework for deploying this process, explaining the development of the framework and demonstrating its compliance with the requirements of certification standards. We also propose a tooling based on open-source, off-the-shelf solutions to implement the framework and illustrate its efficiency and effectiveness on an industrial case study.

Analysis of Intentional Electromagnetic Interference on GENEC Model Using Cylindrical Mode Matching

In recent times, due to the high operating frequency and low operating voltage of modern electronic devices, intended electromagnetic interference (IEMI) has been the cause of increasing damage. In particular, targets with precision electronics such as aircrafts or missiles have shown that a high-power microwave (HPM) may cause malfunction or partial destruction of the GPS or the avionic control system. Analysis of the effects of IEMI requires electromagnetic numerical analyses. However, there are limitations to conventional numerical techniques, such as the finite element method, method of moment, or finite difference time domain method, due to the complexity and large electrical length of a real target system. In this paper, we proposed a new cylindrical mode matching (CMM) technique to analyze IEMI of the generic missile (GENEC) model, which is a hollow metal cylinder with multiple apertures. Using the CMM, we can quickly analyze the effect of the IEMI inside the GENEC model from 1.7 to 2.5 GHz. The results were compared with those of the measurements and, for verification, with the FEKO, a commercial software program developed by Altair Engineering, and showed good agreement. In this paper, the electro-optic (EO) probe was used to measure the electric field inside the GENEC model.

A Design Concept of an Intelligent Onboard Computer Network

The article suggests design principles of an advanced onboard computer network with an intelligent control system. It describes the main advantages of designing an onboard computer network based on fibre optics, which allows the implementation of an integrated intellectual system performing intelligent inference in emergency situations. The suggested principles significantly increase the reliability and fault tolerance of avionics suits, which, in turn, enhances flight safety. The suggested concept aims to solve a number of important problems including the design of a switchless computing environment, the development of the methods for dynamic reconfiguration of avionics suits with such an environment, and the implementation of a specialised multilevel intelligent avionics system within this environment.

An Efficient Task Synthesis Method Based on Subspace Differential Patterns for Arrangements of Event Intervals Mining in the Avionics Cloud System Architecture

Avionics Cloud is a new multi-platform avionics system architecture that provides dynamic access, resource pooling, intelligent scheduling, on-demand service and other cloud computing features. Using Avionics Cloud to rationalize the order of multi-flight platform task execution and realize multitask synthesis is a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose an Efficient Task Synthesis Method based on Subspace Differential Patterns for Arrangements of Event Intervals Mining-DiMining. For tasks executed in a multi-platform Avionics Cloud system with dynamic characteristics of time intervals, DiMining is proposed. The algorithm mines the differential frequent task execution event interval patterns related to execution efficiency from the scenario dataset with high execution efficiency and the scenario dataset with low execution efficiency in order to identify key task patterns related to execution efficiency and improve the task synthesis design efficiency of the multi-platform Avionics Cloud system. Furthermore, in order to improve the mining efficiency of the algorithm, this algorithm designs a variety of pruning strategies to ensure that two differential time interval patterns with high and low functional execution efficiency are mined at one time without preserving the set of candidate items. The experimental results show that the DiMining algorithm is more efficient than the traditional algorithm on the open dataset. The DiMining algorithm is used to mine the 350-field high-efficiency operation scenario dataset and the 350-field efficiency operation scenario dataset under the constructed typical UAV cluster co-detection task scenarios. Based on the simulation results, the DiMining algorithm is able to effectively support the design of multi-platform Avionics Cloud system task synthesis architecture and improve the efficiency of UAV cluster collaborative detection.

Call for Papers: 42nd Digital Avionics Systems Conference

Call for Papers: 42nd Digital Avionics Systems Conference

DT-DS: CAN Intrusion Detection with Decision Tree Ensembles

The controller area network (CAN) protocol, used in many modern vehicles for real-time inter-device communications, is known to have cybersecurity vulnerabilities, putting passengers at risk for data exfiltration and control system sabotage. To address this issue, researchers have proposed to utilize security measures based on cryptography and message authentication; unfortunately, such approaches are often too computationally expensive to be deployed in real time on CAN devices. Additionally, they have developed machine learning (ML) techniques to detect anomalies in CAN traffic and thereby prevent attacks. The main disadvantage of existing ML-based techniques is that they either depend on additional computational hardware or they heuristically assume that all communication anomalies are malicious. In this article, we show that tree-based learning ensembles outperform anomaly-based techniques like AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Z-Score when used to detect attacks that result in increased bus utilization. We evaluated the detection capacity of three tree-based ensembles, Adaboost, gradient boosting, and random forests, and collectively refer to these as DT-DS. We conclude that the decision tree ensemble with Adaboost performs best with an area under curve (AUC) score of 0.999, closely followed by gradient boosting and random forests with 0.997 and 0.991 AUC scores, respectively, when trained using message profiles. We observe that with an increase in the observation window, the DT-DS models present an average AUC score of 0.999, and offer a nearly perfect detection of attacks, at the cost of increased latency in detection of attacked messages. We evaluate the performance of the IDS for Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated– (ARINC) encoded CAN communication traffic in avionic systems, generated using an aerospace testbench, ARINC-825TBv2. The IDS has been evaluated against the active attacks of a state-of-the-art predictive attacker model. Additionally, we observed that the performance of IDS approaches such as ARIMA and Z-Score degrade considerably with a decrease in the size of the observation time window. In contrast, the performance of DT-DS models is consistent, with only an average drop of 0.005 in the AUC score.

The Impacts of Advanced Avionics on Degraded Visual Environments

Degraded visual environments (DVE) such as brownout, sand storms, and night conditions are responsible for accidents and hence losses in the aviation industry. There is a need to develop avionic systems to support pilots when they encounter environmental conditions that compromise their visual capacity. This report discusses the effects of DVEs on aviation, expounds on the advanced avionic systems available and further elaborates how these systems are implemented in countering DVE conditions. The report recommends on how advanced avionics systems have been and are being implemented in aircrafts to support decisions made by pilots flying under degraded visual environments.

The effects of solar radio bursts on frequency bands utilised by the aviation industry in Sub-Saharan Africa

Solar radio bursts have been associated with a number of disruptions in avionic systems. The objective of this work is to develop solar radio burst interference thresholds which account for the technical specifications of aviation-related instrumentation, instrument operating frequencies as well as industry stipulated error tolerances. Solar radio bursts are suggested to be potentially hazardous when exceeding these calculated thresholds. Particular attention is paid to the radio altimeter, an important component in aviation safety. The thresholds suggested in this work for VHF communication, GPS navigation receivers and radio altimeter frequencies are; 102, 103, and 104 sfu respectively. Solar radio burst interference (for solar radio bursts above 104 sfu) is shown to result in large errors (64–251 m) in the altitude estimates for the Frequency Modulated Continuous Waves (FMCW) radio altimeter simulated in this work.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ ОСВОЕНИЯ ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ ПРИ ПОДГОТОВКЕ СПЕЦИАЛИСТОВ АВИАЦИОННОЙ ПРОМЫШЛЕННОСТИ

The work is devoted to the analysis of actual problems arising during the mastering modern and promising information technologies in universities by future certified specialists of the aviation industry in the avionics system. This work notes the main negative consequences of such problems, which seriously complicate the independent practical activities of graduates of higher education in the field of information technology and in the sphere of software development. The work attempts to identify the most significant factors that lead to the emergence of these problems. Various aspects of the adverse influence of the identified factors on the process of training specialists and practical possibilities to compensate for the influence of these factors are considered in the material. The relevant recommendations are also given in this work. They can be used in the construction of curricula and in the formation of programs of disciplines of the information technology cycle.

Uncertainty Considerations that Impact the Use of Dosimetry Metrics in Modern Semiconductors

The use of calculated dosimetry metrics is a crucial element in predicting neutron damage to modern semiconductors under various conditions, e.g., control electronics in avionic systems, satellite sensors, or power output from solar panels. These dosimetry metrics have little value unless they are accompanied by a quantified uncertainty. This paper outlines a mathematical framework that captures the response models for most semiconductor damage metrics and addresses some of the challenges faced in quantifying the relevant sources of uncertainty. The energy-dependent correlations in the damage functions are a critical underpinning in propagating the uncertainty back to a measured quantity. Significant issues are associated with “model defect” in some of the models used, i.e., assumptions in the model form that are not easily considered in the uncertainty estimate. Other issues relate to fundamental differences between the experimental measured quantity and the calculated metric used to represent the damage mode.

Research on testing technology of airborne ADVB avionics system

Research on testing technology of airborne ADVB avionics system

Coloured Petri nets for abstract test generation in software engineering

SummaryModel‐based testing (MBT) relies on models of the system's behaviour to generate abstract tests. Testers can reuse formal models using MBT to increase confidence in critical systems (e.g., medical and avionic systems). In this article, we investigate the current abstract test generation approaches for CPN to provide insights for testers who need to select a suitable one when applying the MBT using CPN. We conduct a systematic literature review to investigate the existing abstract test generation approaches designed for CPN. Subsequently, focusing on specific implementations and advantages/disadvantages, we experiment with formal models of medical systems during our empirical analysis to improve the discussion on existing abstract test generation approaches for CPN. Our study shows that CPN provides reliable tests quickly, depending on the abstract test generation approach applied.

An energy-aware resource allocation method for avionics systems based on improved ant colony optimization algorithm

With the growing number of resources and the expansion of the scale of avionics systems, the problem of energy consumption has become increasingly prominent. Even though high energy consumption increases energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, it has a significant effect on the reliability and availability of a system. To efficiently reduce energy consumption and improve the performance of avionics systems, an energy-aware resource allocation method based on an improved ant colony optimization algorithm is proposed. First, a mathematical model of resource allocation is established, which reflects the relationship between task requirements and resource energy consumption. Then, an improved ant colony optimization algorithm is proposed to allocate heterogeneous resources, which contributes to minimizing the makespan and achieving low energy consumption. Finally, experimental results show that our proposed algorithm outperforms other existing algorithms. In particular, it reduces makespan by at least 5.48% and reduces energy consumption by at least 5.89%.

Health Management Architecture and Logic for a Distributed Complex Integrated Modular Avionics System

More and more advanced aircraft systems are equipped with Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) system, which presents a series of challenges related to fault detection and reporting. This paper addresses some of those challenges and proposes a new Health Management (HM) architecture for a typical distributed complex IMA system. A significant objective of this HM architecture is to ensure that the IMA system integrity and availability meet the system safety requirements. Due to the highly complexity and the integration of IMA system, it is very difficult for both designers and verifiers to develop a practical HM application in charge of detecting, isolating and reporting failures to the related hosted applications and other non-IMA systems. For this purpose, this paper proposes a new IMA health management logic for fault isolation and reporting.

Guest Editorial Special Issue on Security, Privacy, and Trustworthiness in Intelligent Cyber–Physical Systems and Internet of Things

Recent advances in computation, communication, and control technologies have revolutionized the way that humans, smart things, and intelligent systems interact and exchange information. Intelligent cyber–physical systems (ICPSs), characterized by the deep complex intertwining process among cyber components for computation and control with intelligent technologies and the dynamic physical components, will fuel this revolution. Examples of ICPS include intelligent automotive and transportation systems, intelligent avionics systems, smart home, smart building, smart community, smart grid, smart healthcare systems, intelligent wearable systems, intelligent energy systems, robotic systems, etc. Bringing machine/deep-learning-based intelligence techniques into CPSs can improve the performance in many aspects. However, this also imposes new security, privacy, and trust challenges, which highlights the need to develop novel methodologies to tackle these challenges. In this special issue, we will publish the following articles.

A Simulation and Verification Platform for Avionics Systems Based on Future Airborne Capability Environment Architecture

Avionics systems, which determine the performance, stability, and safety of aircraft, are a crucial part of aircraft. With the rapid development of the aviation industry, there are many serious problems in the process of the traditional simulation and verification of avionics systems, especially in the aspects of poor reusability of the hardware and software, poor real-time data interaction, and the high cost of development. In order to solve these problems, a simulation and verification platform for avionics systems based on the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) architecture has been designed by using component and memory database technology. First, a general architecture is designed by referencing the FACE architecture, which allows flexible access to software and hardware resources of avionics systems. Second, the key technologies involved in the platform are described in detail, including scheduling management, communication management, and configuration management, which provide technical support for the simulation and verification of avionics systems. Finally, the simulation and verification environment of avionics systems is established, which realizes data interaction and management of various models, and improves the efficiency of the development and implementation of avionics systems.

Ontology-Based Resource Modeling and Matching Framework in Avionics Systems

In order to realize rapid service-oriented construction of resources and efficient supply-demand matching in avionics systems, an ontology-based resource modeling and matching framework in avionics systems is proposed. First, this paper constructs a hierarchical resource organization framework based on virtual resource pool, covering dispersed and heterogeneous avionics resources and shielding the differences and diversity of resources; next, introduces ontology technology into resource modeling and encapsulates resources as services using the idea of “resource as a service,” facilitating the access and control of resources; in addition, proposes a matching framework which takes into account the energy consumption, in which it firstly tries to find a list of resources which can meet task requirements by a stepwise intelligent matching strategy based on semantic similarity, and the resources in the list will then be sorted according to the energy consumption. Finally, a radar detection case is taken to demonstrate that the proposed model and method are feasible and effective.

Neutron-Induced Radiation Effects in UMOS Transistor

Ground level electronics and avionics systems may suffer from radiation effects induced by neutrons. Neutrons can induce radiation effects in electronic devices via fusion-evaporation nuclear reactions, but few studies have been reported for technologies such as UMOSFET. In this work, estimates and experimental studies on neutron-induced radiation effects via nuclear reactions in a Si-based UMOSFET are presented. Methods for probability estimates of neutron-induced Single-Event Effects (SEEs) in Si-based power transistors and neutron beam energy measurement is presented. The energy spectrum of a UMOSFET subject to fast neutron irradiation was then compared to that of a high charge collection efficiency silicon particle detector.

모듈형 플랫폼을 적용한 자율비행 무인표적기 시스템 개발

A modular platform development technique was proposed to minimize development cost and development period by utilizing the already developed unmanned Aerial target AVT, which has been operated and verified for many years. New Mission Profile was designed and structural analysis was performed through finite element analysis (FEA) by analyzing mission requirements for visual short-range, non-visible mid-range, and long-range targets. The targets are used for guided missile anti-aircraft training. In addition, avionics systems including flight control computers for autonomous flights were developed to verify their conformance by performing launcher take-off tests with rapid acceleration changes and autonomous flight tests at a maximum speed of 300km per hour.

Trustworthy UAV Relationships: Applying the Schema Action World Taxonomy to UAVs and UAV Swarm Operations

Human Factors play a significant role in the development and integration of avionic systems to ensure that they are trusted and can be used effectively. As Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology becomes increasingly important to the aviation domain this holds true. This study aims to gain an understanding of UAV operators’ trust requirements when piloting UAVs by utilising a popular aviation interview methodology (Schema World Action Research Method), in combination with key questions on trust identified from the literature. Interviews were conducted with six UAV operators, with a range of experience. This identified the importance of past experience to trust and the expectations that operators hold. Recommendations are made that target training to inform experience, in addition to the equipment, procedures and organisational standards that can aid in developing trustworthy systems. The methodology that was developed shows promise for capturing trust within human-automation interactions.