Embedded Processing Advancements Enable Smarter, SWAP-Optimized Avionics Displays and Computers

August 1, 2024

Aerospace manufacturers are leveraging multicore processors and modularity to design smarter cockpit displays and avionic computers that are smaller and capable of supporting more applications from a single line replaceable unit (LRU). Some are also starting to embed more of the processing required to enable cockpit display applications within the display itself, rather than having it enabled by an associated LRU.

The development of new electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and avionics companies changing their approach to the development of safety critical computers and aircraft networking technologies are some of the aerospace industry factors driving this design trend. In the U.S., the Department of Defense (DoD) embracing the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) across the purchase of all new aircraft technologies is influencing design changes in cockpit displays and aircraft computers as well.

SWAP-Optimized Avionics Computers

Avionics developers are leveraging a combination of advanced software and scalable system-on-chip (SoC) processing modules to pack more capabilities into smaller form factors for current and next-generation aircraft. Emailed statements, new product introductions, certification updates and aircraft upgrade programs from several avionics companies and suppliers confirm this as a trend that will continue to evolve in the future.

Collins Aerospace is embracing modularity under their “Mosarc” embedded computing architecture. Mosarc is Collins’ MOSA-aligned open system avionics architecture. Mosarc uses a modular “building block” design that promotes interoperability with third party technologies not developed by Collins. The Raytheon subsidiary has been researching, developing and flight testing various Mosarcaligned avionics technologies in recent years.

“Our goal for Mosarc is to achieve loose coupling and high cohesion for a compliment of modular and scalable safety critical avionics functions accessible by third parties. These function-based modules (display, I/O, graphics, video, processing, networking, etc.) are also designed for re-use into different LRUs (air vehicle computers, smart displays, remote I/O concentrators) in a way that streamlines aircraft safety and airworthiness efforts,” a representative for Collins Aerospace said in an emailed statement.

Collins has categorized a series of different core avionics building blocks under its Mosarc portfolio, including the Mosarc air vehicle computer (AVC).

“The features of the AVC allow for the consolidation of multiple LRUs into a single LRU,” the Collins representative said. “Accounting for redundancy, what used to require six-to-12 separate LRUs for general-purpose processing, video merge and distribution, graphics, I/O, and networking can now be accomplished in two AVCs, while also enabling greater flexibility in pilot display and control interfaces. Because the LRU compliment required is reduced, additional SWaP and cost savings are realized in the aircraft wiring and installation.”

Another example of this modular design trend comes from ScioTeq, the Kortijk, Belgium-based provider of visualization technology. In 2023, ScioTeq launched the PU-5200 certifiable display computer.

The company packed enough processing, memory and power into the PU-5200 to drive all of the avionics visualization for every cockpit display featured on an aircraft. PU-5200’s ruggedized exterior has an SoC embedded architecture with the “latest generation of ARM-core based processors,” according to the company’s website.

“While having used PowerPC-based CPU solutions for the last 20 years, ScioTeq realized that the PowerPC 60x bus architecture is near the end of its life and decided to switch to ARM-core based, highly integrated SoC solutions. Consistent with the high-integrity, high-integration, long PLC, low SWaP-C philosophy, ScioTeq selected from the latest offering of I.MXx series of SoC solutions from NXP,” Dominiek Saelens, Senior Product Manager, ScioTeq, explained in an email.

In September 2023, Airbus announced the selection of the PU-5200 for its A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft to replace ScioTeq’s older generation displays and computers currently featured on that model.

Companies that supply avionics operating system software, testing tools and connectors have also been observing the SWAP-optimization of the latest generation of avionics computers and displays. Phoenix, Arizona-based operating system provider DDC-I, for example, provides the real-time operating system (RTOS) that Honeywell Anthem — Honeywell Aerospace’s next generation flight deck — runs on. Deos, DDC-I’s RTOS, augments Anthem’s processing by providing cache partitioning within its software, rather than hardware, which allows it to run on faster processors.

“Yes, there is a trend in the commercial and military avionics market place toward modular architectures that leverage the performance of multicore processors. Abstracting the display system from the systems generating the data makes for a more flexible modular architecture and enables the expansion of capabilities required for all next generation displays,” Gary Gilliland, Vice President of Marketing for DDC-I, said in an emailed statement.

DDC-I recently announced a partnership with U.K.-based software testing tool provider LDRA that will enhance the integration between the Deos RTOS and the LDRA tool suite. A supplier of software testing to dozens of avionics companies, LDRA is also seeing more of its avionics customers leveraging multicore processors.

“We see an acceleration toward multicore processors such as Intel Tiger Lake and TI Hercules embedded processors being used in avionic systems,” Jim McElroy, Vice President of Marketing, LDRA said in an emailed statement.

Avionics packaging and connector designs are also adapting to the modular design trend. In June, TE Connectivity unveiled a new five-bay connector shell for its “MiniMRP Avionics and Electronics Packaging.” The MiniMRP modules are designed based on the ARINC 836A standard, which outlines the mini modular rack principle avionics concept.

According to a June 4 press release, the five-bay connector shell for MiniMRP offers an additional port and module compared to the four-bay solution, allowing increased input/output connectivity within the compact MiniMRP enclosures.

A representative for TE Connectivity explained via email how applying the MiniMRP concept to the development of cockpit displays enables increased embedded processing integration inside the display.

“Embedding more processing capabilities within the cockpit display itself allows critical computations and data processing tasks to be performed closer to where the information is needed — directly at the display. This reduces latency in data transmission and enhances real-time decision-making capabilities,” the representative said. “By integrating processing power within the display unit, the overall space required for separate avionics computers or processing units can be minimized.”

Smarter Displays

In addition to embedding more processing into the cockpit display itself, avionics companies are also adding more features and making the software that drives the display functionality easier to upgrade or add new applications to.

Universal Avionics is one of the companies that has been researching and developing smarter displays in recent years, especially within its InSight flight deck system and displays. In June, the Tucson, Arizona-based Elbit Systems subsidiary announced that its InSight display has achieved certification as a modification for Hawker 800 business jets equipped with Honeywell SPZ-8000 avionics. The InSight configuration for Hawker 800XP includes three high-resolution displays and two touchscreen-enabled control displays.

A representative for Universal Avionics said that they have been able to transfer some of the embedded processing required for the display’s applications into the display itself.

“Synthetic Vision Systems were historically housed in a separate LRU. Our goal was to embed SVS processing into the display itself, eliminating the need for this extra 10-pound LRU. Universal Avionics achieved this in designing the InSight Flight Display System, bringing SVS capability directly to our displays,” the representative said.

According to Universal, the total weight reduction on the Hawker XP InSight upgrade could be up to 500 pounds, depending on the aircraft’s existing equipment. “This weight reduction primarily comes from the reduced LRU count and weight from the removal of legacy avionics and wiring. For a Honeywell-equipped Hawker, the remote mount LRU count is reduced by eight,” the Universal Avionics representative said. “Five CRT displays (totaling about 50-75 lbs.) are replaced with three new EFI-1040 LCDs, which total just 36 lbs. Three EFIS symbol generators are also removed and replaced with two data concentrator units. The Hawker 800XP flight deck is further de-cluttered with the removal of about 38 annunciators that are now displayed on primary flight displays or no longer needed for systems removed.”

The U.S. Air Force has released updates about several avionics upgrades programs over the last year, including a digital display upgrade for its T-38 trainer jet. In 2023, the Air Force began upgrading a total of 59 of its T-38 trainers with Astronautics’ AFI4700 RoadRunner electronic flight instrument system (EFIS). The form-fit-function avionics upgrade is replacing the T-38’s electromechanical attitude director indicator (ADI) and horizontal situation indicator (HSI) primary flight instruments with a digital display system.

Since the cockpit of the T-38 was first developed over 50 years ago, it has a legacy analogue configuration, including the ADI and HSI. Instead of packing what previously would have been separate processing modules into an SoC architecture, in this case, the consolidation occurs by combining some of the major analog functionality into one digital high definition interface such as the Road Runner EFIS.

“The RoadRunner combines the legacy ADI and HSI functionality into a single, two-in-one, fully digital, software-configurable 5-inch display,” a representative for Astronautics said in an emailed statement.

In October 2023, the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command’s C-130H fleet began the transition from analog to digital with testing beginning on a major upgrade of the aircraft’s avionics system. The upgrade provides a new flight management system, autopilot, large glass multifunctional displays, digital engine instruments, digital backbone and terrain awareness and warning system, according to the Air Force.

The upgrade replaced all but three of the aircraft’s original analog gauges. In place of those gauges, that worked independently of each other, are six new brightly lit multifunctional displays working together throughout the aircraft’s flight deck, according to the Air Force. The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard are looking to upgrade a fleet of at least 77 C-130H aircraft with the AMP Inc. 2 modification over the next five years.

In a press release highlighting the significance of this upgrade, the Air Force Materiel Command provided insights as to why this was much more than just a simple cockpit upgrade.

“This is much larger than just a software or hardware upgrade,” said Maj. Jacob Duede, 417th FLTS Experimental Test Pilot. “It’s reconstructing and modernizing the aircraft’s entire cockpit area.”

This article was written by Woodrow Bellamy III, Senior Editor, SAE Media Group (New York, NY).

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