Aircraft Data Network and

Avionics Integration
-ARINC629 and Integration

Dr H. Jia
Department of Aerospace Engineering
Cranfield University
25 January 2021
Integrated Avionics
Data Buses T-1 T-2 T-3
629
T-120

bidirectional, CSMA/CD 20-bit data @ 2Mbps

● ARINC 629
− ARINC 629 is a multiple transmitter, broadcast-type, autonomous terminal
access, time-division multiplexed communication system that supports
quasi-real time data communication.
− Use carrier sensing and collision avoidance techniques
● ARINC 659 (SAFEbus)
− Backplane bus

BIU-x BIU-y 659 BIU-x BIU-y

32-bit word @60Mbps

© Dr H.Jia 2 25-Jan-21
 ARINC 629
● Data speed ±2 Mbps‡
● Bi-directional
● Up to 120 terminals can transmit on one bus.
● LRU can send data to an ARINC 629 one at a time
‡
● ‡
Receive data from data bus to all LRUs at the same
time.
● Two types of ARINC 629 protocols with periodic mode
and non-periodic mode
– Basic protocol, Providing an equal priority access for each
terminal to transmit either Periodic or Aperiodic data
– Combined protocol, supporting prioritized data
● Each terminal autonomously determines its transmission
sequence.
© Dr H.Jia 3 25-Jan-21
 ARINC 629 Protocols
● Transmit Interval (TI)
– This timer is common to all terminals on the bus. It is the minimum
time between two transmissions on a same terminal. TI is the
longest of the three timers and starts every time a terminal begins
to transmit.
● Synchronization Gap (SG)
– This timer is also common to all terminals on the bus. The SG timer
starts when the bus is quiet. It is reset if a carrier appears on the
bus before it has elapsed.
● Terminal Gap (TG)
– This timer is unique for each terminal on the same bus. The TG
timer determines which terminal transmits if two or more terminals
transmit intervals has elapsed and the bus is busy. The TG timer is
reset by a presence of a carrier. The TG timer should begin only
after the SG timer has elapsed and only if no carrier is present.

© Dr H.Jia 4 25-Jan-21
 ARINC 629 Protocols
● BP periodic mode
– The order in which terminals achieve bus access is the same for
all bus cycles and is determined by the initialization sequence.

© Dr H.Jia 5 25-Jan-21
 ARINC 629 Protocols
● BP non-periodic mode
– The sum of all the TGs, transmission times and SG is
greater than TI then the system operates
Go Ahead Go Ahead
TI TI

SG TG1
Message Message

Terminal 1
Go Ahead
TI Go Ahead TI

TG2 SG TG2
Message Message

Terminal 2

Go Ahead
TI Go Ahead TI

TG3 SG TG3
Message Message

Terminal 3

© Dr H.Jia 6 25-Jan-21
 ARINC 629 CSMA/CA
● CSMA/CA: Carrier-Sense Multiple Access/Collision
Avoidance
● The 629 protocol is described as CSMA/CA. 629 is a dual
redundant data bus architecture where two buses are hot
standby to each other in a linear bus topology.
● Each terminal can transmit 629 data to and receive data
from every other terminal on the data bus, which allows
much more freedom in the exchanging of data between
units in the avionics system.
● The 629 data bus cable has an unshielded twisted pair of
wires and can be up to 100 meters long. Remote terminals
are autonomous for timing synchronization each RT has
independent transmitter and receiver PROM for
sequencing the time
© Dr H.Jia 7 25-Jan-21
 Integrated Avionics: Cabinet
Since the early 1990s, ADN has shifted away from federated architectures
and adopted a more integrated approach.

● A central computing platform was connected to a common set of sensors,

actuators and displays.
● This approach reduced weight and power, and also increased the reliability
of the avionics
● Various line-replaceable modules (LRMs) are integrated into cabinets
through more fast backplane buses.
● Communication between cabinets is on faster avionics data buses

integrated cabinet

3
4

Backplane Bus

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 Cabinet Design

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 Cabinet LRM Design

ARINC 664 Bus

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 Multiple Bus Systems
● Multiple bus systems implemented on modern
passenger aircraft

Airbus A330 and

A340 aircraft

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 Integrated Avionics: Boeing 777

Different subsystems interconnected via

the ARINC 629 data bus.

© Dr H.Jia 12 25-Jan-21
Boeing 777 – Avionics Level

© Dr H.Jia 13 25-Jan-21
 Integrated Avionics: Boeing 777
It seemed that the hardware for
LRU was still being developed
solely for a specific aircraft and 1 2 3 4 5
that the software was written
solely for that hardware. LRU

ARINC 659

LRM

© Dr H.Jia 14 25-Jan-21
B777 Onboard Diagnostic & Maintenance System

BIT
BIT

BIT
Fault Reasoning

BIT BIT

BIT

© Dr H.Jia 15 25-Jan-21
Integrated Avionics:
Cabinet

● Some benefits with the cabinet integration approach

– An open architecture with standardised HW/SW IO leads to reusable
modules at lower prices, and makes the system integration and the
maintenance easier.
– It is easier to make midlife upgrades to the system when the technology
advances.
– The software is not tied to a specific hardware.
– Support for different needs of safety- and protection criticality.
● Some drawbacks that can be identified with the IMA central approach:
– Large data cabinets that can be hard to fit into the available
compartments.
– Complex back planes.
– Large cabinets will require more cooling.
– There will be a lot of cables going into the cabinets.

© Dr H.Jia 16 25-Jan-21
 AFDX/ARINC 664
● AFDX (Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet) is a data network,
patented and registered trademark by Airbus, for safety-critical
applications that utilizes dedicated bandwidth while providing
deterministic quality of service (QoS).
● AFDX data network is based on Ethernet technology using
commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components.
● The AFDX data network is a specific implementation of ARINC
Specification 664 Part 7, a profiled version of an IEEE 802.3 network
per parts 1 & 2, which defines how commercial off-the-shelf
networking components will be used for future generation Aircraft
Data Networks (ADN).
● The six primary aspects of an AFDX data network include full
duplex, redundancy, determinism, high speed performance,
switched and profiled network.

© Dr H.Jia 17 25-Jan-21
 Criteria for Design, Assessment and
Selection of Avionics Databuses
Criterion Selected Evaluation Factors
Safety Availability and reliability, partitioning, failure detection,
common cause/mode failures
Data integrity Maximum error rate, error recovery, load analysis, bus
capacity, security
Performance Operating speed, bandwidth, schedulability of messages,
bus length and max. load, retry capability, data latency
Electromagnetic Switching speed, wiring, pulse rise and fall times, lightning &
compatibility radiation immunity
Design Compliance with standards (such as DO-254 & DO178C)
assurance
Configuration Change control, compliance with standards, documentation,
management interface control, etc.
Airworthiness

© Dr H.Jia 18 25-Jan-21