Description and operational capabilities

GNC experimental laboratory is an infrastructure supporting the following technology areas:

On-board systems technologies (Avionic Systems) with particular reference to Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems
Advanced development and validation methods for GNC prototypes (Real-time Systems & Rapid Prototyping).

The activities typically performed in the Guidance, Navigation and Control experimental laboratory are the following:

Integration, Realization and Verification of avionics systems HW/SW prototypes using automatic code generation tools and HW COTS.
Integration, implementation and testing of HW/SW facilities for experimental validation of avionic cockpits and unmanned aircrafts.
Real-time hardware-in-the-Loop and Pilot-in-the-Loop Simulations for the verification of HW/SW prototypes of avionic systems.
Integrated Real-time simulations of Man-in-the-loop Complex Scenarios (UAS remote pilot, General Aviation VLA-CS23 class vehicles pilot, air traffic controller, GCS operators, pseudo-pilot of traffic aircraft)

Thanks to internal CIRA projects, instrumentation and facilities are regularly updated to keep the lab always to the state of the art. The future development plans include the design and implementation of:

Set-up for the testing of micro-satellites control systems,
Development Platforms for on-board and on-ground systems of mini and micro drones,
Development Platforms for on board Flight Control Computers based on IMA technology,
Technological development platforms for Visual Based Applications.
Pilot-in-the-Loop Simulation facilities for rotary wing aircraft (helicopters and tilt-rotor).

Technical features

The GNC laboratory includes four separate areas with different specialization:

A control room, where the simulators of the laboratory are on-line managed;
A developing area, where the facility or on-board systems are implemented and integrated with other equipment;
A room for the Pilot-in-the-Loop Avionic Concept Demonstrator (PACO) facility, where experiments are performed for setting up new cockpit concepts for manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft ground stations;
A room for the Avionic Cockpit Demonstrator (CAM) facility, where are carried out demonstrations and verification tests of new avionics systems for General Aviation aircraft.

Moreover, the laboratory provides:

A data network dedicated infrastructure with three separate subnets for flexible interconnection of the various simulation systems or prototypes;
A power supply system connected to a UPS that ensures the pursuance of testing operations even in case of temporary interruption of electrical energy;
A wireless voice communication system available for each location and able to emulate existing voice radio links between the aircraft, traffic controllers and unmanned aircraft ground operators.
Finally, in order to support the system integration and tuning operations, the laboratory is also equipped with:
Specific workbenches for small assembly jobs and mechanical and electrical integration;
Electrical and mechanical tools for assembly and installation activities.
Signal Generation and conditioning devices, for experimental set-up integration and testing phases, and for electrical signals measurement (Multimeter and oscilloscopes).

Instrumentation

The tools available in the GNC Laboratory, used during the different phases of the development process for Advanced GNC prototypes, can be mainly divided in four categories:

HW-in-the-Loop Real Time Simulators. Various HW-in-the-Loop equipment and machines with high computing power and I/Os, used to support the experimental testing activities of avionics systems. In particular, they rely on the most advanced HW/SW tools available on the market for the realization of experimental test-rig for aerospace applications. These machines can be used separately for specific applications or as an integrated environment implementing test-rigs for the validation of control systems prototypes and complex avionics systems through real-time simulations with hardware-in-the-loop.

HW/SW Platforms for GNC systems prototypes development. They're HW/SW development environments that allow the realization of control system prototypes for both laboratory and flight testing, starting from the system-level design up to the implementation on dedicated systems.

Integrated Simulation Facility (ISF), able to perform the real time simulation of manned and unmanned aircrafts, traffic and environmental scenarios and to emulate Air Traffic Management (ATM)/Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems. This facility is able to integrate several detailed simulation platform into a single application scenario, using a standard interoperable communication protocol. The simulation platforms can be of 3 types: Aerial Platforms (aerial and space vehicle simulators, manned and unmanned), Terrestrial Platforms (ATM/ATC emulators, service stations in support of the navigation) and Space Platforms (GPS network, EGNOS network and meteorological satellites).

Small scale Flying Testbed (FSSD), which allows the development and flight validation of avionic systems for small drones (under 25 kg) in a realistic operating environment. It is a real flying facility based on a scaled vehicle with CIRA's designed avionics for unmanned operations. Such experimental platform, moreover, allows the mounting of special instrumentation for performing specific tests.

Customers

OMA Sud Sky Technologies, Vulcan Air, IAI, ASI/ESA, Leonardo, Eurocopter, Liebherr, Thales Alenia Space, Fiat Avio, Meteor (Galileo Avionica), ELV, MBDA

Partners

Aspen Avionics

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