Task: Verification of Distributed System Functionalities
Some systems offer functionalities that are distributed across different locations in the aircraft or have dependencies to other systems. In late development phases, engineers use an integration test rig that corresponds to the aircraft in size and dimensions, including the cable harnesses. The test rig consists of multiple real electrical or electro-mechanical systems, such as electric power systems, the nose wheel steering system, and control surface actuators.
Challenge: Setting Up a Shared Test Environment
Testing multiple networked aircraft systems is one of the major challenges in verification and validation. This can only be done at the aircraft level, but by this stage, design decisions have already been made, hence any changes are costly and time-consuming. Frontloading of integration tests through a shared hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation environment can save costs and speed up the development process.
Solution: HIL Simulation with SCALEXIO
Therefore, physical test rigs are replaced with HIL simulators. The networked aircraft systems can be connected to multiple dSPACE SCALEXIO systems, which simulate missing parts of the aircraft in real time, for example, the engines. The dSPACE HIL simulators also provide navigation and environment data, including aerodynamics, that are representative of the flight scenario.
For efficient test system configuration, the dSPACE software ConfigurationDesk allows the graphical connection of Simulink® models and Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs) to input/output channels of dSPACE real-time simulation systems. Additionally, the dSPACE experiment software ControlDesk allows the user to perform measurement, calibration, and diagnostics of connected systems.
