Real-time communication over switched ethernet for military applications

Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet is a forecasted new technology for advanced military aircraft system interconnection. However, it was not originally developed to meet the requirements of real-time communications. Therefore, in this paper, we analyze traffic shaping and a priority handling approach over switched Ethernet to achieve reliable transmission with bounded delays that conform to the real-time constraints, required by military applications

Fly-By-Wireless for Next Generation Aircraft: Challenges and Potential solutions

”Fly-By-Wireless” paradigm based on wireless connectivity in aircraft has the potential to improve efficiency and flexibility, while reducing weight, fuel consumption and maintenance costs. In this paper, first, the opportunities and challenges for wireless technologies in safety-critical avionics context are discussed. Then, the assessment of such technologies versus avionics requirements is provided in order to select the most appropriate one for a wireless aircraft application. As a result, the design of a Wireless Avionics Network based on Ultra WideBand technology is investigated, considering the issues of determinism, reliability and security

Full duplex switched ethernet for next generation "1553B" -based applications

Over the last thirty years, the MIL-STD 1553B data bus has been used in many embedded systems, like aircrafts, ships, missiles and satellites. However, the increasing number and complexity of interconnected subsystems lead to emerging needs for more communication bandwidth. Therefore, a new interconnection system is needed to overcome the limitations of the MIL-STD 1553B data bus. Among several high speed networks, Full Duplex Switched Ethernet is put forward here as an attractive candidate to replace the MIL-STD 1553B data bus. However, the key argument against Switched Ethernet lies in its non-deterministic behavior that makes it inadequate to deliver hard timeconstrained communications. Hence, our primary objective in this paper is to achieve an accepted QoS level offered by Switched Ethernet, to support diverse "1553B"-based applications requirements. We evaluate the performance of traffic shaping techniques on Full Duplex Switched Ethernet with an adequate choice of service strategy in the switch, to guarantee the real-time constraints required by these specific 1553B-based applications. An analytic study is conducted, using the Network Calculus formalism, to evaluate the deterministic guarantees offered by our approach. Theoretical analysis are then investigated in the case of a realistic "1553B"-based application extracted from a real military aircraft network. The results herein show the ability of profiled Full Duplex Switched Ethernet to satisfy 1553B-like real-time constraints

Real-time characteristics of switched ethernet for "1553B" -embedded applications : simulation and analysis

In our previous work , Full Duplex Switched Ethernet was put forward as an attractive candidate to replace the MIL-STD 1553B data bus, in next generation "1553B"-embedded applications. An analytic study was conducted, using the Network Calculus formalism, to evaluate the deterministic guarantees offered by our proposal. Obtained results showed the effectiveness of traffic shaping techniques, combined with priority handling mechanisms on Full Duplex Switched Ethernet in order to satisfy 1553B-like real-time constraints. In this paper, we extend this work by the use of simulation. This gives the possibility to capture additional characteristics of the proposed architecture with respect to the analytical study, which was basically used to evaluate worst cases and deterministic guarantees. Hence, to assess the real-time characteristics of our proposed interconnection technology, the results yielded by simulation are discussed and average latencies distributions are considered

Real-Time Ethernet Solutions supporting Ring topology from an Avionics Perspective: a Short Survey

To cope with the increasing quantity of wires, thus the weight and integration costs in avionics, an implementation of a new avionics communication architecture with less cables will clearly improve the efficiency of aircraft, while reducing the deployment costs. Furthermore, such a communication ar- chitecture shall be efficient to meet the design requirements, in terms of predictability and availability, for the least amount of money. Therefore, the AFDX compatibility, a minimized (re)- configuration effort and costs are among the most important issues to guarantee. On the other hand, the recent research effort towards defining new communication solutions, to guarantee a high availability level with limited cabling complexity for real- time applications, has renewed the interest in ring topology. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is benchmarking the most relevant solutions, based on Ethernet technology and supporting ring topology, vs avionics requirements, and we particularly focus on the main Performance Indicators, specified in IEC 61784-2, of each one of them

Performance analysis of a Master/Slave switched Ethernet for military embedded applications

Current military communication network is a generation old and is no longer effective in meeting the emerging requirements imposed by the next generation military embedded applications. A new communication network based upon Full Duplex Switched Ethernet is proposed in this paper to overcome these limitations. To allow existing military subsystems to be easily supported by a Switched Ethernet network, our proposal consists in keeping their current centralized communication scheme by using an optimized master/slave transmission control on Switched Ethernet thanks to the Flexible Time Triggered (FTT) paradigm. Our main objective is to assess the performance of such a proposal and estimate the quality of service we can expect in terms of latency. Using the Network Calculus formalism, schedulability analysis are determined. These analysis are illustrated in the case of a realistic military embedded application extracted from a real military aircraft network, to highlight the proposal's ability to support the required time constrained communications

Centralized vs distributed communication scheme on switched ethernet for embedded military applications

Current military communication network is a generation old and is no longer effective in meeting the emerging requirements imposed by the future embedded military applications. Therefore, a new interconnection system is needed to overcome these limitations. Two new communication networks based upon Full Duplex Switched Ethernet are presented herein in this aim. The first one uses a distributed communication scheme where equipments can emit their data simultaneously, which clearly improves system’s throughput and flexibility. However, migrating all existing applications into a compliant form could be an expensive step. To avoid this process, the second proposal consists in keeping the current centralized communication scheme. Our objective is to assess and compare the real time guarantees that each proposal can offer. The paper includes the functional description of each proposed communication network and a military avionic application to highlight proposals ability to support the required time constrained communications

Spécification et validation d’un réseau de communication de type Ethernet Commuté pour systèmes avioniques militaires de nouvelles générations

La complexité et l'hétérogénéité des réseaux avioniques militaires actuels sont des freins au besoin d'accroissemnt de connectivité des fonctions embarquées dans les aéronefs de nouvelle génération. Ces facteurs rendent difficile la détermination des délais de communication et la vérification des contraintes temps réel. Cette thèse est une proposition de remplacement de ces réseaux par une architecture homogène basée sur la technologie de l'Ethernet commuté full duplex. Les contributions principales résident dans la conception et la validation de deux nouvelles architectures avioniques. La première est à contrôle décentralisé, basée sur un schéma de communication asynchrone; tandis que la deuxième est à contrôle centralisé , basée sur un schéma de communication synchrone. Nous avons détaillé le principe de fonctionnement et les caractéristiques de chacune d'elles. Puis, nous avons évalué analytiquement les garanties déterministes offertes par chaque architecture avionique proposée. ABSTRACT : The current military interconnection system in no longer effective in meeting the emerging needs of next generation military applications. In fact, the complexity and heterogeneity of this network limit system modularity and make the real time constraints guarantees difficult to prove. In this thesis, Full Duplex Switched Ethernet is put forward as a future interconnection technology to replace the current military avionic architecture. Our main contributions lie in the design and validation of two new avionics architectures.The first is based on decentralized control with an asynchronous communication pattern; while the second is based on a centralized control with a synchronous communication scheme. First, we detailed the characteristics of each one. Then, delay bound analysis are conducted to evaluate the deterministic guarantees offered by each proposed architecture. Theoretical analysis are then investigated in the case of a realistic military aircarft network