| CODE | AET3111 | |||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Avionics | |||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Aerospace Technologies | |||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study unit analyses airborne avionic systems that are typically found on modern commercial transport aircraft. The study-unit covers: - Fundamental concepts of avionics (analog vs. digital systems, data acquisition, processors, types of sensors and actuators, etc.); - Avionics computer architectures (central, distributed, federated, IMA, etc.); - Avionics databuses (topologies, access protocols, ARINC 429, ARINC 629, ARINC 664, etc.); - Flight control and automation (Fly-by-Wire, control surfaces, control laws, servo actuators, stability augmentation systems, the flight director, autopilots, FMS, etc.); - The flight deck environment (cockpit controls, instrumentation, cockpit display technologies, crew alerting, EFBs, design considerations, etc.); - Development of airborne avionic hardware and software (design assurance levels, DO-178B/C, DO-254, software engineering, tool qualification, HIL testing, unit testing, integration testing, etc.) Study-unit Aims: - To explore different avionics computer architectures; - To discuss various avionics data bus topologies and data transfer standards; - To explain the operation of the flight control system and associated automation on an aircraft; - To examine the flight deck environment from a historical perspective and discuss the technologies found in the cockpit; - To discuss various aspects of the design of safety-critical hardware and software for avionic systems. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the pros and cons of various avionics computer architectures; - Highlight the characteristics of different data buses; - Explain the role of the flight control system - and related automation - in different phases of flight; - Describe the various technologies available in the flight deck to enable the crew to monitor and control the aircraft; - Explain how avionic systems are designed and tested to ensure that they meet a particular level of safety. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Compare the avionic systems and automation capabilities of different aircraft; - Analyse the criticality level of avionic hardware and software; - Assess the robustness of an avionic system or architecture and identify possible limitations; - Transfer knowledge and understanding of avionic systems to flying skills and airmanship. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: - Moir, I., Seabridge, A., Jukes, M., Civil Avionics Sysems, 2nd Edition, 2013, Wiley. - Helfrick, A., Principles of Avionics, 9th Edition, 2015, Avionics Communications Inc. Supplementary readings: - Collinson, R.P.G., Introduction to Avionics Systems, 3rd Edition, 2011, Springer Netherlands. - Spitzer, C.R., Ferrell, U., Ferrell, T., Digital Avionics Handbook, 3rd Edition, 2015, Taylor and Francis Group. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite Study-units: AET1911, AET1912, (AET1904 or AET1903) | |||||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Online Learning | |||||||||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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