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Aviation History
1999
1999 - 2350.PDF
AVIONICS 'Virtual cockpit' teams picked GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC NASA HAS SELECTED six industry teams for its Synthetic Vision programme to develop "virtual-reality" cockpit displays that improve safety in low visibility operations. Synthetic Vision will combine satellite navigation with terrain databases and three-dimensional displays to show the aircraft's flightpath in relation to traffic, weather, terrain, obstacles, run ways and other features. Rockwell Collins has been selected to develop synthetic vision for business and commercial air craft. Negotiations continue with a second team, says NASA project leader Dan Baize. AvroTec and Research Triangle Institute will develop general aviation synthetic vision systems. Jeppesen-Sanderson will study terrain database requirements, while Ohio University's Avionics Engineering Center and Rannoch will be responsible for specific component technologies design. A synthetic vision system will consist of "tactical" and "strategic" displays, says Baize. The tactical display will replace today's primary flight display or attitude director indicator, while the strategic one will replace the navigation display or horizontal situation indicator. Unlike an enhanced vision sys tem, which is based around an imaging sensor, synthetic vision uses computer-generated displays. "The picture of the external envi ronment is entirely synthetic," says Baize. "It is database-based, not sensor-based." The tactical display will show the flightpath as a "highway in the sky" over textured three-dimen sional terrain and overlaid with traffic, weather and other hazard information. The strategic display will be a three-dimensional map that will allow planning and replanning of a flight. "The pilot will be able to view the flightplan relative to the terrain to anticipate any conflicts," says Baize. Synthetic Vision is a five-year, $100 million effort under the umbrella of NASA Langley's $500 million Aviation Safety Pro gramme. In the initial 18-month phase, NASA is committing $5.2 million, to be matched by $5.5 mil lion in industry funds. At the end of next year, the agency plans to select for further development one synthetic vision approach in each of the business/ commercial and general aviation areas, aiming for certification and commercial availability by the end of the programme. Flight testing is planned by the end of next year, possibly using NASAs Boeing 757. Initial tests of candidate displays will be conduct ed next month, using Calspan's Convair 540-based in-flight simu lator aircraft, Baize says. These tests will mark the end of external vision system develop ment under NASA's cancelled High Speed Research programme, but will be used to jump-start the Synthetic Vision effort, he says. • Collins plans 'smart' radio for US Air Force ROCKWELL Collins is to demonstrate a software-pro grammable radio to the US Air Force. It is being offered as a solu tion for a USAF requirement to equip fighters to operate in the future civil communication, navi gation, surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) system. The demonstration, planned for mid-2000, will involve Collins' : miniature modular digital radio i (MMDR) and a general purpose processor programmed with CNS/ATM software developed for the company's commercial DLM- 900 datalinkmanager.The test will demonstrate the system's ability to handle typical CNS/ATM func tions, such as controller-pilot datalink communication, says pro gramme manager Matt Herlocker. The demonstration is part of the USAF's FANTASTIC (Future Air Navigation and Traffic Avoidance Solution through Integrated Communication/Navigation/ Id entification) programme, under F-15s are in line for Global Air Traffic Management capability which Collins is studying ways to equip Boeing F-15s and Lockheed Martin F-16s for what the US mil itary terms global air traffic man agement (GATM). Because space is at a premium in fighters, according to Herlocker, the FANTASTIC programme is looking at ways to integrate GATM functionality into boxes such as the ARC-210 radio or identification friend or foe system. The software-programmable MMDR could replace current VHF/UHF radios while providing GATM capability, he says. The digital radio, which is packaged into a single SEM-E-size module, can be programmed in flight to operate at any frequency between 30MHzand2GHz. The FANTASTIC programme is scheduled to end in January 2 001, Herlocker says, and will pro duce a roadmap for introducing GATM capability into F-15s and F-16s, with the emphasis on com mercial off-the-shelf solutions. • Engine data relay to give early warning DATA SYSTEMS & Solutions will begin a real-time engine health monitoring programme for German charter airline Condor as its 13 Rolls-Royce RB211- powered Boeing 757-300s enter service in the next several months. Information will be transmitted during flight to Data Systems & Solutions' engine health centre at Derby, UK. After processing, it will be forwarded to Condor, to provide early warning of mainte nance requirements, and to R-R, to enable it to anticipate the air line's support needs. Condor is the first civil aero space customer for the Reston, Virginia-based company, a joint venture between R-R and Science Applications International. The engine condition monitoring ser vice launch contract covers 10 years. Condor expects the service to cut operating costs and aid mainte nance planning. Data Systems & Solutions says it is talking to other airlines about the new service. • Helicopter health system to be tested OPERATIONAL testing of a helicopter health monitoring system is scheduled to begin short ly aboard a Sikorsky CH-5 3 E at the US Navy's flight test centre at Patuxent River, Maryland. The helicopter has been fitted with a BFGoodrich (BFG) Integ rated Mechanical Diagnostics Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) for development and operational testing. The system is expected to reduce operational and support costs and improve readiness and safety. BFG says check flights have verified basic system functions: rotor track and balance; regime recognition; operational usage; engine perfor mance assessment; mechanical diagnostics; vibration procedures and exceedance monitoring. BFG Aerospace's Aircraft Integ rated Systems unit is to retrofit US Navy CH/MH-53Es and Sikorsky SH-60Bs with the HUMS, follow ing operational testing. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 11 - 17 August 1999 29
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