THE OBJECTIVE

In 2010, the NASA Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Independent Test Capability (ITC) team developed a software-only simulator for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Operational Simulator (GO-SIM) project. GO-SIM was designed as a high-fidelity simulator with no hardware dependencies. Its functions included loading and running unmodified flight software binaries, executing flight scripts, performing single-step debugging, injecting errors via the ground system, stressing the system under test, and validating findings from other analyses. Because of the cost of supporting and maintaining the hardware, traditional hardware-based testing and verification was impractical.

HOW WIND RIVER HELPED

By simulating a BAE RAD750 processor, Wind River^® Simics^® enabled target software to run on a virtual platform in the same way it runs on physical hardware. Add to that Simics’ capabilities of scripting, debugging, inspection, and fault injection, and users like the IV&V team can define, develop, and integrate their systems without the constraints of physical target hardware. By verifying expected software behaviors, IV&V increased its confidence that flight software would work as expected and properly handle adverse conditions. By incorporating science instrument simulators, IV&V reduced risk for instrument-spacecraft interfaces and ensured internationally cooperative systems.

THE RESULTS

NASA IV&V successfully met its goals to develop a complete simulator with no hardware dependencies in a reduced time frame and at lower cost than if it had been developed using traditional hardware simulations. Simics enabled NASA IV&V to enhance quality in two ways: The ITC team could be confident in its ability to verify issues and, during development, the software simulations enabled the team to find bugs early and fix them before they advanced to the next phase. By using Simics, NASA IV&V enabled 80–90% of the simulation models to be reused for other missions, such as the James Webb Space Telescope.

THE OBJECTIVE

The Royal Air Force needed to quickly develop error-free navigation for its Tornado GR4 low-level attack jet. The system—known as TARDIS—requires on-the-fly processing of radar data and digital moving-map display data for both pilot and navigator. The challenge was to reliably integrate multiple highly sophisticated software applications to produce full-color, real-time displays.

HOW WIND RIVER HELPED

BAE chose the VxWorks^® real-time operating system (RTOS), its development tools platform, and Wind River^® Professional Services to deliver a state-of-the-art Tornado Advanced Radar/Map Display Information System, aka TARDIS.

THE RESULTS

Using Wind River products and services, BAE avionics engineers were able to meet their challenging deadline with a state-of-the-art system that uses liquid-crystal active matrix displays, the latest radar processing techniques, and map-generation software and graphics. TARDIS provides digital color display screens for the pilot and navigator, who can view displays together or independently. The system integrates radar data and digital moving-map display data to provide optimal situational awareness for low-level terrain navigation and avoidance capabilities.

THE OBJECTIVE

AgustaWestland wanted to adopt an innovative approach for the development of a new safety-critical avionics display for a military helicopter upgrade program. The military helicopter had previously used avionics display control units within the cockpit and cabin of the aircraft, but the new project aimed to enable the implementation of additional functionality to meet new operational requirements.

HOW WIND RIVER HELPED

The state-of-the-art touch screen LCD display is integrated with the VxWorks^® 653 real-time operating system, which implements ARINC 653 partitioning of applications. This open, extensible architecture has enabled AgustaWestland to configure the display to ARINC 661 graphics-specific requirements and to integrate its applications into the display system using a modular approach, which differs from the turnkey black-box approach used by traditional suppliers.

THE RESULTS

AgustaWestland successfully used this ARINC 653 and ARINC 661 standards–based approach for the development of a safety-critical touch screen avionics display, which has provided improved HMI navigation and achieved the operational requirements for a military helicopter upgrade program. VxWorks 653 provides an open foundation for modular and incremental certification, allowing AgustaWestland to exploit these capabilities in subsequent upgrades and future TSU variants.

THE OBJECTIVE

The Navy wanted to know if an unmanned combat air system (UCAS) could operate safely and autonomously from aircraft carriers and refuel in-flight. Northrop Grumman responded with the X-47B, a 38-foot-long tailless unmanned aircraft designed to stealth specs. The computer-controlled X-47B was designed to be a flying robot, constantly exchanging real-time data with the aircraft carrier. To create the Demonstrator model, Northrop Grumman assembled a team that included GKN Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney, Eaton, GE, Hamilton Sundstrand, Dell, Honeywell, Goodrich, Moog, Parker Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, and Wind River^®.

HOW WIND RIVER HELPED

Northrop Grumman chose VxWorks^® as the software platform for the UCAS-Demonstrator program. GE Aviation chose VxWorks as the foundation for its Common Core System, the backbone of UCAS-D computers, networks, and interfacing electronics. Not only did VxWorks provide the primary computing environment but Northrop Grumman developers leveraged VxWorks tools to rapidly create, deploy, and maintain critical applications for the X-47B. Building on VxWorks enabled Northrop Grumman to rapidly create, deploy, and maintain the safety-critical control system.

THE RESULTS

Navy fighter pilots depend on a complex system of real-time visual and audio cues to safely take off from and land on a pitching aircraft carrier flight deck. The Northrop Grumman team successfully translated that system of human perception and judgment into a digital language that a robot can effectively employ. Proven commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) certification products from Wind River helped Northrop Grumman rapidly and cost-effectively develop highly complex systems that meet rigorous military and commercial safety standards.

In 2013, in recognition of their “great achievement in aeronautics and astronautics,” the U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman, and the X-47B industry team, including Wind River, were awarded the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy.

THE OBJECTIVE

AgustaWestland wanted to deliver an innovative, futuristic aircraft in record time. Looking at establishing the next breakthrough in the vertical flight arena, the company turned to designing an all-electric rotorcraft in just six months. Project Zero is an unmanned, all-electric tilt rotor aircraft that hovers like a helicopter and converts to a fixed-wing aircraft in forward flight. The project offers a look into the future of advanced rotorcraft and is the result of close design and manufacturing collaborations with other Finmeccanica companies, including Selex ES, a Wind River^® customer.

HOW WIND RIVER HELPED

AgustaWestland selected Wind River VxWorks^® 653 Platform for its high performance and reliability, as well as to minimize program risks and ensure successful program completion. The industry-leading VxWorks 653 Platform delivers the stringent integrated modular avionics (IMA) foundation aerospace and defense companies need to address the safety and security requirements of mission-critical applications, as well as the portability and reusability requirements of noncritical applications.

THE RESULTS

The project team used the High-Integrity Flight Control Computer (Hi-FCC) platform developed by Selex ES, based on a Freescale (now NXP) Power Architecture^® processor and VxWorks 653 Platform. This allowed the design team to use a mature, efficient platform combined with a high-quality software stack, with great support from both companies. It also helped reduce overall development and deployment time.