A Commitment to ATN
Implementing Aeronautical Data Link Today
Presented by Kevin Wohlers
ACI Program Manager
18-19 September
2001 ATN2001 (London) 1
ACI Objective
ACI is a joint venture between THALES ATM, Honeywell,
Sofréavia, and THALES Avionics
ACI was formed in 1997, under contract to ATNSI, to build and
deploy the first platform independent, DO-178B level C, SARPS
compliant ATN network router in the industry.
ACI delivered its first ground-side products in early 2000 for
evaluation in the CPDLC Build 1 ground network.
ACI and its member companies are committed to providing a full
suite of ground and airborne products.
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 2
ACI Products
ACI, under contract to ATNSI, produced four Router Reference
Implementation (RRI) configurations:
2 Airborne Systems (ES, IS)
2 Ground Systems (ES, IS)
Full Suite of DO-178B level C documentation
ACI has produced accompanying products including:
4 Application Service Element (ASE) Modules
CPDLC and CM
ADS and FIS
Support Tools
DB Reader, Trace Logger, FIB Viewer, Control Application,
Event Logger
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 3
ACI Documentation
DO 178B Level C Certification artifacts
Development Plans, Design Documentation, Design Standards, Verification Artifacts,
CM/SQA Records, Configuration Index and SW Accomplishment Summary
Porting Guide
Stack Configuration
Scalable factors
Build procedures
RAM/ROM/MIPS estimation process
STREAMS Environment (including PSE)
Partitioning
Host Interface Description
Initialization / Operation / Shut-down
Validation test scripts & sequences
System level tests designed for multiple configurations (g-g routing, end system, etc)
Requirements Based Test Cases and Procedures - test to lowest level requirement
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 4
Portability
Minimal Custom Modifications Required
Stack Builder defines number of ASE’s and subnetwork drivers required.
System Environment Exchange (SEE) provides interface to common
system services.
Based on Unix STREAMS
Portable Streams Environment (PSE) allows STREAMS utilization on non-
Unix platforms
User PSE allows for well defined partitioning between the RRI and non-level
C applications.
Scalability
Scale for platform specifics through the Data Base Reader
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 5
ATN Portable Product
Custom Package Components User Processes
Platform Stack Builder
Configuration
Tables Local
Manager
NMA
Build
Configuration
User
PSE HMI
Core PSE
Subnetwork
System Environment Exchange
Drivers User
SEI
ASEs
Applications
ATN
OS Applications
Router
Stack
System
Clock
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 6
Certification
FAA’s Technical ReUsable Software Team (TRUST)
TRUST performed Stage of Involvement (SOI) I, II Audits, reviewed SOI III, IV audit
results
Developed Position Paper on ATNSI / ACI Reusable Software
Key issues addressed by TRUST Position Paper:
Meeting DO-178B architecture and lifecycle data objectives
Full System Requirements Traceability (high level requirements, structural coverage)
PSAC defines, how much “certification credit” can be achieved
Tool Qualification - All tools, not just development tools
Partitioning - ensure non-level C code can not direct level C RRI
Scalability - Porting Guide defines scalable parameters
Full set of Qualified Tools:
Requirements Based Test Suite
Structural Coverage
SDL Requirements and Functional Coverage
Autocode Generator
Requirements Trace Tool
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 7
Requirements Trace Tree
Specifications
ICAO
PICS/SARPs
FRS
Non-functional Rqmts
S/SRS
Performance Rqmts
SDD
CODE
VTC
Testable Rqmts
VTP
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 8
ACI supports FAA CPDLC I & IA programs
CPDLC 1*
Ground ATN End System for the DLAP (ported on RS6000)
Air simulator (400 aircraft simulation capability)
Delivery of a tool set (dB reader, FIB viewer, trace & event logger, …)
Interoperability testing with ARINC (ground network and VDL 2) and Rockwell-
Collins (CMU)
Performance analysis support
CPDLC 1A*
Full DO 178B level C ground End System for the DLAP (LynxOs port)
DO 178B process consulting
Network management strategy analysis
* as a subcontractor to Computer Science Corporation.
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 9
ACI supports FAA CPDLC I & IA programs
CAART: Cooperative Agreement for ATN Router Trial
Cooperative Agreement between the FAA and ACI for evaluation of RRI router to
support CPDLC-1
Successful evaluation of the router led the FAA to select the RRI router to
support CPDLC-1 at Miami ACC
RRI router upgraded with enhanced configuration/network management
functions to meet CPDLC-1 requirements
4 routers delivered to FAA
Installation at Miami ACC to start in October 2001
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 10
Honeywell & THALES Avionics
Honeywell will port the RRI / ASEs to both federated and integrated platforms
Federated: CMU Mk II & Mk III
Integrated: AIMS (777), EPIC (B&GA), VIA (Military)
THALES Avionics has performed a trial RRI software portation to the Airbus
ATSU platform, to prepare for future operational FANS/B installations in
Airbus aircraft.
Joint THALES Avionics / Honeywell activities:
THALES Avionics and Honeywell are currently in discussions with OEMs
concerning the provision of integrated ATN/ACARS routers.
THALES Avionics and Honeywell are undergoing discussions with other avionics
providers concerning the provision of a VDL/2 compatible derivative of the RRI
software.
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 11
THALES ATM
THALES ATM is offering the ATN capability in its ATC Center product line
EUROCAT. The Integrated Data Link Server integrates the ACI full DO
178B level C ATN stack with CPDLC applications as a building block of
EUROCAT.
THALES ATM as a main partner in the European Commission Aircraft in
the Future Air traffic management System (AFAS), is providing an ACI-
based ATN stack for the ground functions, in coordination with the airborne
router provided by THALES Avionics. This includes both the CPDLC and
the ADS applications.
To ensure inter-operability of the available ATN stacks and compliance with
the ICAO SARPS, Eurocontrol awarded the CAERAF (Common American
European Reference ATN Facility) program development to THALES ATM.
This program was completed early 2001, and the facility is available for
validation purposes.
THALES supplies the complete Air & Ground suite
of ATN products for ATC & AOC needs
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 12
SOFREAVIA
SOFREAVIA is offering ATN software products based on ProATN and ACI
RRI/ASEs:
ProATN Router used in PETAL-II trials, and in CAERAF
ProATN Router used in Norway for ADS for helicopters SAR
Both ProATN and RRI routers currently being evaluated by SITA
RRI Router being evaluated by the FAA
SOFREAVIA has been involved in major activities about ATN testing and
validation
CAERAF, CTS
SOFREAVIA is offering consultancy and engineering services about ATN
and data-link:
network design
data-link systems design
data-link certification
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 13
Summary - Benefits
Portable software designed to mission-ready quality standards
can reduce manufacturer cost & schedule risks, and can
facilitate certification
ATN software certifiable to DO 178B Level C has been in the
field since February 2000, and will play a major role in the FAA
CPDLC communication infrastructure, as well as in the products
of the ACI partner companies
ACI member companies are continuing to invest in, and support
the transition from development to implementation
This portable & certifiable software is available to 3rd parties
under license, to provide the same benefits of cost and risk
reduction
18-19 September 2001 ATN2001 (London) 14