NASA evaluation checks out new avionics standards

Sysgo has participated in a NASA evaluation of AFDXT and ARINC653-1 in connection with NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle Programme.

Sysgo, a global vendor of highly reliable device software, has participated in a NASA evaluation of AFDXT, the new avionics data network, as well as ARINC653-1, the standard interface for avionics application software, in connection with NASA's Crew Exploration Vehicle Programme.

NASA is currently surveying standards and technology for embedded avionics systems for the new Crew Exploration Vehicle.

One of the possibilities for the communications subsystem is AFDXT, a deterministic full-duplex switched Ethernet, based on COTS Ethernet components.

The specifications for AFDXT come from ARINC664, which is the new standard for avionics data networks.

Boeing and Airbus, for example, have adopted it for their new airplanes.

For the software development, ARINC653 is a relevant application software interface standard for avionics.

Sysgo provides a software-only implementation of AFDXT.

Rick Alena, computer engineer at NASA Ames Research centre worked with Sysgo CTO Detlev Schaadt and Software Engineer Frank Goergen to evaluate and benchmark the Sysgo AFDX software.

Sysgo provided NASA with an evaluation processor board running an ARINC653 operating system and the Sysgo AFDXT software for network timing and standard compliance testing conducted jointly by NASA and Sysgo engineers.

With respect to AFDXT, the main considerations and discussions were drawn from the differences between hardware solutions and software solutions particularly in an ARINC653 computing system.

"We were happy to provide information about AFDXT to NASA, and to help them evaluate the capabilities of AFDXT and ARINC653".

"They now have a basis for understanding the pros and cons of using AFDXT as their communications solution, and ARINC653-based software for developing their applications", said Detlev Schaadt, CTO of Sysgo, who joined the team supporting NASA.

Sysgo is currently participating in several development projects that involve AFDXT.

In addition, the company is providing consulting services in connection with ARINC653.

Sysgo has significant knowhow that is based on past projects with ARINC653-compatible application development environments.

Sysgo's PikeOS is an ARINC653-compliant real-time operating system for secure and safety-critical applications.

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