THE DEATH OF SMART SENSORS AND EFFECTORS FOR FUTURE COMBAT AIRCRAFT

This paper presents the view that the combination of performance, avai lability and affordability requirements for future combat aircraft dem ands a concept for low-bandwidth sensor/effector interfacing which rem oves the need for smart sensors and effecters. This contrasts sharply with current trends for civil aircraft. The paper discusses the reason s for the above, then describes a concept which extends modular avioni cs into the low-bandwidth sensor/effector interfacing domain. Modular avionics programmes concentrate on the core digital processing and/or the high-bandwidth sensor/effector interfacing (RF modules, integrated sensor system [ISS], etc.). Low-bandwidth sensors and effecters (temp erature, pressure, position, switches, lamps, etc.) need to be interfa ced to the core processing, and are an important part of the availabil ity equation since they are often essential for flight. The paper ther efore proposes that: (1) Modular avionic architecture characteristics and goals can be applied to the low-bandwidth interfacing domain (2) ' 'Open system'' standardization of low-bandwidth interface components i s possible, leading to cost savings (3) Hardware and software elements designed for the core digital processing can be re-used in the low-ba ndwidth interfaces, further improving affordability (4) The drivers fo r civil and military aircraft are different, but a common solution is possible. The paper covers the following topics: (1) Key requirements for combat aircraft (derived from goals for LCC, mission performance, operational performance), and differences between civil and military r equirements (2) Modular low-bandwidth interfacing concept (3) Overview (signal concentrators in an integrated avionic architecture): hardwar e building blocks (line replaceable interface modules); data transmiss ion (within signal concentrators and to the core processing); software (4) Conclusions (implications for modular avionics standardization, s mart sensors/effectors and the potential for a common civil/military a pproach). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.