Design and Development of Hardware-In-Loop Remote Simulation Real-Time Testbed with MIL-STD 1773-Based Fiber Optics Data Acquisition System

Abstract

Performance evaluation of avionics software in conjunction with flight hardware is a critical process carried out using a specialized Hardware-In-Loop Simulation (HILS) platform. This platform integrates essential flight subsystems, such as actuators and navigation systems, to validate their performance under real-time conditions. A unique facility, the Flight Motion Simulator (FMS), plays a vital role in testing the dynamic behavior of navigation systems. However, challenges arise due to the physical separation of critical equipment like the FMS and actuator setups from the main HILS Test-bed, necessitating their integration across large distances. To address this, a remote simulation Test-bed has been designed and developed utilising the emerging MIL-STD 1773 protocol with fiber optics-based communication. This approach ensures real-time data transfer with minimal latency, preserving the high-performance requirements of HILS. The Fiber Optics Data Acquisition System (FODAS) facilitates seamless integration of remote flight subsystems with the HILS Test-bed, eliminating delays associated with relocating equipment and re-establishing setups. Additionally, it enables the connection of flight subsystems directly from integration hangers, enhancing testing efficiency and flexibility. This research outlines the design and development methodology of the MIL-STD 1773-based FODAS system integrated with the HILS Test-bed. It further provides performance analysis, advantages, and practical results from its implementation, demonstrating the system’s capability to overcome existing limitations while improving operational efficiency