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Technology update
Avionics display development
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Using Virtual Prototype's software, Boeing Phantom Works and Honeywell Defense Avionics Systems are prototyping, simulating and flight testing avionics displays onboard the F-15E aircraft.
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The avionics displays onboard the F-15E aircraft were prototyped, simulated, and flight tested by Boeing Phantom Works and Honeywell Defense Avionics Systems using software developed by Virtual Prototypes Inc. Using the software, engineers replaced both the central computer and multipurpose display processor of the aircraft with an Advanced Display Core Processor (ADCP).
The new processor was successfully flight tested last year in which it provided the same capabilities and display functions as the previous system. "By replacing proprietary military computer systems with commercially available technology, we are significantly reducing avionics development, fly-away, and maintenance costs," said Reg Varga, head of the Bold Stroke project at Phantom Works.
Boeing Phantom Works created the avionics displays using VAPS, a suite of tools developed by Virtual Prototypes to automate all phases of the development and deployment of real-time, data-driven, and event-driven graphical human-machine interfaces (HMI) and applications. Once the displays were created, Honeywell engineers used the company's CCG software product to port the libraries to Honeywell-developed avionics equipment.
Another flight test of the prototype ADCP is planned for early next year. Boeing will also develop and flight test by late 1999 a pre-production ADCP that performs an increased number of F-15E operational flight program (OFP) functions. A production version would provide all these functions as well as advanced capabilities.
Frank Bokulich
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