Flashcards: Avionics Part II

The MCP contains controls that allow the crew of the aircraft to select which parts of the aircraft's flight are to be controlled automatically.The MCP can be used to instruct the autopilot to hold a specific altitude, to change altitudes at a specific rate, to hold a specific heading, to turn to a new heading and so on. It is independent of the autopilot.

In a Head Up Display a computer-generated image is superimposed on a pilot’s normal view, through the windshield, of the terrain ahead.

The primary flight status information was structured first in a basic ‘six’arrangement and later in a basic ‘T’ arrangement. These arrangements allowed for various efficient scanning patterns depending on the phase of flight.Limited flight information was presented on electro-mechanicaldials and gauges. The main disadvantage of these dials and gauges is that it isdifficult and mechanically complex to integrate multiple sources of informationonto a single indicator. Therefore, a classic cockpit had an abundance ofindicators, which led to high workload and low flight-technical performance.

Flight Management Computer (FMC): This is the core of the FMS. It processes flight plan data, performs calculations for navigation and flight planning, and provides essential flight information to the pilots.

Flight Data Storage Unit (FDSU): This unit is responsible for storing critical flight data. It has a database of waypoints, radio navaids, airports, airways.

Command/Display Unit (CDU): This is the primary interface between the pilots and the FMS. Pilots use the CDU to input flight plans, make changes to the flight route, and monitor various aspects of the flight.

Flight Planning: The FMS provides a computerized flight planning aid to the pilot, primarily through the Command/Display Unit (CDU). This function allows for the creation, modification, and management of the flight plan.

Navigation and Guidance: The FMS combines data from various navigation sources (such as INS, GPS, navaids) to derive the best estimate of the aircraft's position and velocity. It then provides both lateral (LNAV) and vertical (VNAV) guidance to the flight control systems, such as the autopilot or flight director.

Optimization and Performance Prediction: The FMS optimizes the flight plan by selecting the appropriate speed, altitude, and engine power settings during all phases of flight. It integrates knowledge about aircraft type and weight, fuel weight, engine type, performance characteristics, and other relevant factors.

An accelerometer measures the specific force and not the true acceleration of the vehicle f = a - g

The main error in accelerometers is called the accelerometer bias. This error is often unknown and it changes in time. The bias of an accelerometer results in an erroneous specific force measurement, which is carried out in the distance calculation. This can result in erroneous corrections for transport wander.

Stable Platform and Strapdown INS. Stable platform measures in Geodetic ref frame and strapdown INS in Body ref frame.

Stable platform measures directly in navigation ref frame, but relies on mechanical gyros (high maintenance cost, mechanically complex,...).

Strapdown relies on ring laser gyros (RLG) and are much more accurate and reliable, but also makes strapdown INS expensive (initial cost) and does not measure in geodetic ref frame, which then needs a transformation. Both need corrections for transport wander and apparent drift.

Three accelerometers and three gyroscopes. Accelerometers measure the specific force in the three axes (ax, ay, az) while gyroscope the angular rate (p, q, r). Both measure in body axes, because they are strapped to the vehicle

1- Integration of the Euler Equations

2- Resolution of the gravity vector

3- Integration of the vehicle dynamics of motion

4- Computation of the navigation solutions

Everything is measured in Body frame, but for navigation we need to get a navigation solution in Geodetic frame. Because the accelerometer measures the specific force, the true aircraft accel. is obtained by adding gravity components (in Body) to measurements. Resolution of gravity vector means that gravity, defined in Geodetic frame, needs to be transformed to Body frame first before adding it to the accel. measurements. The final result needs to be transformed in Geodetic frame to be used for navigation

Schuler tuning in a stable-platform INS is not actually a process of "tuning" in the traditional sense. It refers to an undamped closed-loop corrective action that constrains the system's tilt errors. This action makes the platform behave like a Schuler pendulum, allowing it to oscillate about a zero value with an 84.4-minute period. Schuler tuning is achieved by feeding back the accelerometer-derived vehicle rate turns to torque the vertical gyro. This ensures that the platform follows the local vertical as the aircraft moves over the spherical Earth, thereby correcting for transport wander.

YES In strapdown INS systems, which use a virtual or analytic platform, Schuler tuning is also present. This setup maintains a "virtual" platform that exhibits the same characteristics, including Schuler oscillations, as a gimballed stable platform.

The VOR principle of operation is bearing measurement by phase comparison. The transmitter on the ground produces and transmits a carrier signal

composed of two sub carriers that amplitude and frequency modulate the carrier at 30 Hz, respectively. The phase of modulation for one sub carrier is omnidirectional (the REF signal), while the phase of modulation of the other sub carrier (the VAR signal) depends on the direction relative to the ground station. The AM and FM signals are constructed in such a way that they are in phase (0 phase difference) in the direction of the Magnetic North. The airborne receiver tunes into the carrier frequency and filters out the AM and FM sub signals. Comparing the phase between the REF and the VAR shows what radial the aircraft is on. The radial info is displayed on the HSI.

Radial the aircraft is on, morse code for identification, voice

The DVOR has an omnidirectional antenna in the center that sends out a carrier was which is amplitude modulated with a 30Hz sinusoidal. This is the REF signal. Surrounding the central transmitter is an array of placed on a circular track. These antennas are "electronically rotated" at a speed of 30 revolutions per second. This creates a Doppler shift of the carrier frequency, observable by a distant observer. The Doppler effect causes the subcarrier to be modulated by FM modulation.The airborne receiver receives both signals, demodulates them and compares the phase difference between the demodulated REF and VAR signals. This comparison is interpreted as the radial from the station​​.

Switching frequency is caused by the antennas placed in the circular array that

each transmit in turn. This discrete switching causes will appear in

the frequency spectrum as spurious side bands that distort the signals used for

navigation. To mitigate this, adjacent antennas to the transmitting

antenna will also transmit the signal, but at a lower power. This will reduce

the power of the spurious side bands in the frequency spectrum

DME operates by sending a pulsed signal from the aircraft to the DME ground station, which then after 50 microseconds transmits a reply. The time delay between the interrogation and reply is measured by the airborne equipment, and this delay is converted into distance.DME measures the slant range, not the horizontal distance.DME has various modes of operation, including search, track, and hold modes.DME provides high accuracy, typically within 0.1 nautical miles.

- Glideslope antenna for vertical guidance, located at the runway threshold.

- Localizer antenna for horizontal guidance, located at the back of the runway

- Marker beacon or DME, located in front of the runway, that provides distance to the runway

Because the ILS receiver is set to display ‘fly up’ at reception of the 150 Hz modulated signal and ‘fly down’ at the reception of the 90 Hz modulated signal, the ‘stable’ glide slope of 3 degrees is accompanied by another glide slope of 15 degrees.

Because ILS relies on the multi-path effect, obstacles in terrain (other aircraft,

vehicles) can result in disturbances of the ILS signal.

1) Carrier wave2) and 3) signal is AM at 90Hz and 150Hz respectively4) This is the antenna bridge5) length 1/4 lambda6) length 3/4 lambda - it adds a phase of 180 degrees7) 90 degrees phase addition8) central antenna

9) right antenna

10) left antenna - has an additional 180 degree phase addition

- Each GPS satellite has its own unique chip-sequence or key, known as a PRN (Pseudo-Random-Noise) identifier. Not the whole string is sent, only 1023 bits every 1 millisecond. All satellites can transmit on the same carrier frequency without interfering with each other due to these unique PRN codes​​.-The GPS receiver generates a copy of this signal

- The receiver then aligns its generated copy with the received signal through brute force cross-correlation computations.

- The receiver then applies a time-shift to its local copy to match the received signal. This measured time shift (travel time) is converted into a pseudo range, which is the estimated distance between the satellite and the receiver.

To find an estimate for the position, the GPS receiver requires signals from at least four satellites. By solving the equations involving the pseudo ranges from these satellites, the receiver can calculate the 4 unknowns, the three-dimensional position (latitude, longitude, altitude) and the clock error.

No! A sole means navigation system is defined as one that, for a given phase of flight, must meet all four navigation system performance requirements: accuracy, integrity, availability, and continuity of service. At the current state, GPS is typically used as a supplemental means navigation system, meaning it must be used in conjunction with a sole means navigation system. This is because, although GPS is highly accurate and reliable, it may not always meet the requirements for availability and continuity of service.

- Receiver clock error (it's not an atomic clock)

- Satellite clock error: clock on board of the satellite ticks faster due to being further from Earth's mass.

- Signal propagation errors due to signal blocking, multipath effect, lower GDOP (when satellites are closer) and ionosphere interference.

The DGPS system requires a reference station located at a known location. The station also has a GPS receiver onboard which is used to estimate the station's position and then calculate the correction factors at that location.The station then broadcasts the calculated correction to all GPS users nearby, which in turn use the correct to improve the accuracy of their own estimated position.

A PSR rotates while transmitting high frequency pulses which reflect off objects (such as aircraft) and return to the radar.

The radar broadcasts these pulses along a directional pattern called the beamdiwth which is narrow in azimuth (radial) and very broad in elevation.

To create the pulses, the radar has a RF switch that switches between a transmission and receiving mode.

The PSR uses pulse modulation. The transmission pattern is characterized by the pulse width, the rest time and the pulse repeat time.

Slant Range: Distance from the radar to the aircraft, determined by the time it takes for the radar signal to return. R = c*t/2

Azimuth: Direction or angle of the aircraft relative to the radar, determined by the position of the radar's rotating antenna when the signal is received.

The rotation speed of the radar antenna determines the update rate of target information. Faster rotation can provide more frequent updates but reduce the radar range as there is not enough time for distant objects to be detected.

If the time to repeat the pulse is too short, it cannot received the reflected pulses from distant objects.Rmax = c*PST/2

The minimum radar range is defined as: Rmin = c*PW/2

So for an object to be detected it should be at least half a pulse away from the radar.

Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR): Often paired with PSR, SSR transmits interrogations to aircraft transponders, which respond with information such as altitude and identification. This system provides additional data not available with PSR alone.

- Mode A: In this mode, the interrogation interval between pulses P1 and P3 is 8μs. The transponder replies with the Aircraft Identification Code (ACID), which is defined by Air Traffic Control (ATC) and set by the pilot on the transponder cockpit interface. This mode utilizes 12 bits, allowing for 2^12 =(4096) different ACID codes​​​​.

- Mode C: In this mode, the interrogation interval between pulses P1 and P3 is 21μs. The transponder replies with the aircraft's pressure altitude in steps of 100 feet (QNE), essentially providing the aircraft's flight level (FL)​​.

The interrogation signal consists of three pulses (P1, P2, P3). The transponder knows which reply to give based on the positioning of these pulses. (8 μs or 21 μs)

There is a second, omnidirectional, pulse between P1 and P3, the P2 pulse. The signal strength of this pulse is higher than (encompasses) the sidelobes. The issue is resolved by ensuring that the transponder only replies when P1 and P3 pulses are > 9 dB larger than P2, a situation that occurs only in the main lobes of the antenna.

SSR Mode S permits discrete addressing of aircraft: a unique 24-bitMode S address is assigned to each aircraft so that aircraft can beunambiguously identified and addressed worldwide: 2^24 ≈ 17 million.

The reply from the transponder consists of twelve data pulses. These pulses are uniformly spaced between two framing pulses.Each pulse has a different length, that is then translated to a fixed number. Adding the numbers together yields the ID code or the pressure altitude. Maximum of 2^12 codes can be transmitted.

Standard Terminal Arrival Route and Standard Instrument Departure

It stands for Area Navigation. It is a method of instrument flight rules (IFR) navigation that enables aircraft to fly on any desired path within the network of navigational beacons, rather than being restricted to flying directly to or from the beacons. A comparison follows below.Standard Navigation: The pilot must navigate leg by leg from VOR to VOR, which can lead to a longer, less efficient path.

RNAV: The pilot follows a pre-programmed, optimal route that directly connects A to B, without being constrained by the locations of ground-based beacons.

Airborne Collision Avoidance System. It works as a last resort fall back option to prevent mid-air collisions when ATC separation has failed. TCAS is the most used form of ACAS.

ACAS works by means of aircraft interrogating each other’s SSR and requires

distance, distance-rate, and altitude as the critical parameters to detect conflicts. The distance is obtained from the onboard SSR interrogations (round-trip of interrogation-reply cycle), the velocity by sending pulses after 1 second. The ratio distance / distance-rate results in a time measure that represents the time-to-collision. The SSR Mode C of the SSR allows the ‘aircraft’ to obtain the altitude of other aircraft and this information.

Traffic Advisory: 40s before CPA, shows altitude, bearing and range of intruder.Resolution Advisory: 25s before CPA shows the vertical escape manoeuvre to avoid a collision.

Nuisance warnings (false alerts) and the they only provide vertical escape manoeuvres.