Description: Since all modern aircraft make use of Digital Flight Data Acquisition Unit (DFDAU) technology, it is essential for every Flight Data Analyst, Avionics Engineer or Investigator to get a full grasp with digital parameter signal specifications and conversions. In FDR 3002, you will focus on the advanced input signals, signal conditioning, analog-to-digital and digital-to-digital scaling, multiplexing, conversions and output characteristics of the ARINC 717 DFDAU. In contrast to FDR 3001 where the 12-bit ARINC 573 FDAU architecture and FDRS analog model were introduced, in FDR 3002 you will make use of the 32-bit ARINC 429 transmission in order to generate digital FDRS models based on the ‘ARINC 429 / DFDAU / SSFDR’ interface. Additionally, in this Level II course, you will become submerged in DFDAU software and frame programming, as well as signal interfacing of low speed and high speed DITS (Digital Information Transfer System) signals. Lastly, the addition of several new conversion types to your flight data parameter algorithm library, will assist you in your future analysis of complex conversions and parameters.
Benefits: With the aforementioned skills now mastered, you will be able to comfortably simulate any modern ‘DFDAU/SSFDR’ system in a lab environment where post-incident, post-event or even post-accident parameters need to be replayed and re-visualized in real time. Upon successful completion of this course, you will have a tremendous library of tools, software techniques, and flight data knowledge, which can easily be applied to tackling flight data calibration anomalies, flight data system defects, design and reverse engineering issues & FDRS certification. The course is also useful for ‘SSFDR/DFDAU’ design engineers and system installation teams, who may be tasked with final functional certification tests of FDR systems.
Student Level: Should be familiar with digital communications and comfortable with algebraic equations, trigonometry, calculus, & numerical analysis.
Prerequisite: FDR 3001 or proof of equivalent experience
Class Duration: 5 days @ 8 hours per day
Class Breaks: Lunch + 2 coffee breaks
Training Certificate: Upon successful completion of the final project, the student will receive a training certificate. If the project grade is less than 70%, the student will receive a course attendance certificate.
Course Outline:
DAY 1
- DFDAU sensor inputs and sub system inputs
- Advanced sensor inputs (e.g. - LVDT, RVDT, resolvers & synchros, frequency transmitters and others)
- Advanced signal characteristics (e.g. – AC Ratio, DC Ratio, HLDC and others)
- Advanced conversions (e.g. - ‘coarse/fine’ computations, Teledyne & Hamilton synchros and others)
- Regression Quality of Fit
- Digitizing and formatting the sensor input (sampling and quantizing) in preparation for ARINC 429 transmission
DAY 2
- ARINC 429 signal format and specification: Source & Sink, Label, SDI, Data bits, SSM & Equipment ID
- Digital Word Formats (32-bit BCD, BNR and others)
- Parameter throughput, refresh rates and transmission delays
- 18-bit Digital resolution
- ARINC 429 voltage levels, signal characteristics and circuit simulation
DAY 3
- Advanced Signal Conditioning, AD Conversion, & Multiplexing
- DFDAU software programming I
DAY 4
- DFDAU software programming II
- FDR raw data file formats (bin, packed, unpacked)
- FDR raw data file decoding
DAY 5
- Final Project: Modeling of the DFDAU SSFDR Digital System from stimulus to conversion and back to stimulus
