I/O system accelerates flight simulator

Compact and rugged Gigabit Ethernet based I/O platform allows FlightSafety to operate its new simulator at 2000Hz, providing ultrasmooth and realistic flight characteristics.

United Electronic Industries (UEI) has been selected by FlightSafety International to supply the computer-based I/O (SimI/O) hardware used in future flight simulators.

The UEI system provides the interface between the controlling computers and the simulator's various systems including avionics instrument control (AIC), control loading and motion (CLM) and flight deck I/O (FDK).

UEI was selected for a variety of reasons.

The high channel density of the UEI system allowed the I/O to be installed directly on the simulator, eliminating the need to run literally thousands of wires from the simulator to externally mounted I/O racks.

The high speed of the I/O combined with the Gigabit Ethernet interface real-time operating system support allows FlightSafety to operate its new SimI/O at 2000Hz, providing ultrasmooth and realistic flight characteristics, FlightSafety expects to experience an increase in simulator reliability and system throughput.

It will also benefit from a reduction in equipment and floor space requirements compared with previous installations due to the elimination of equipments racks and remote VME racks.

The built-in diagnostics of the UEI products, combined with the extensive diagnostic and self-test capabilities implemented by FlightSafety reduces installation time, increases MTBF and may increase simulator "in-system availability" beyond FlightSafety's already remarkable 99.6%.

"We are very excited that FlightSafety's next generation SimI/O equipped flight simulators will feature UEI's RACKtangle I/O series", says Shaun Miller, President, UEI.

"Our team has worked very hard to create the necessary elements to control all aspects of a simulator including analogue and digital I/O, avionics and communications interfaces as well as a real-time Ethernet based software interface".

"We are delighted that the features and benefits of this advanced technology has been recognised and adopted by a prestigious industry leader such as FlightSafety".

"The UEI system is a key component in our new SimI/O equipped simulators", says Ron Jantzen, Director of Engineering, Simulation Systems, FlightSafety International.

"The capabilities and benfits provided by the Racktangle I/O series system come as a result of the close working relationship and contributions of the engineering teams from both UEI and FlightSafety".

"This system will enhanced the performance of our simulators, provide simpler and quicker maintenance, increase in-system availability, and help us to achieve our ultimate goal of creating a superior simulator".

UEI's powerful Racktangle architecture is a compact and rugged Gigabit Ethernet based I/O platform.

Each chassis consists of a core module (with processor and network interface), a power supply module and twelve I/O slots.

Users then match the Racktangle I/O configuration to their application by selecting the appropriate I/O modules.

With over 30 I/O modules available, there will be a configuration ideally suited for almost any application requirement.

The Racktangle's 12 I/O slots provide up to: 300 analogue inputs, 384 analogue outputs, 576 digital I/Os, 96 counter or quadrature channels, 144 ARINC-429 channels and/or 48 serial or CANbus ports.

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