Unmanned Systems Technology 021 | Robot Aviation FX450 l Imaging Sensors focus l UAVs Insight l Liquid-Piston X-Mini l Riptide l Eurosatory 2018 show report l Zipline l Electric Motors focus l ASTS show report

12 August/September 2018 | Unmanned Systems Technology TTTech has developed a system for Distributed Integrated Modular Avionics (Distributed IMA), as described in the RTCA DO-297 standard (writes Nick Flaherty). These IMA architectures have to have deterministic, high-integrity comms capabilities, and TTTech has used its real-time Ethernet protocol to provide this capability. The TTE Development System A664 v4.1 for VxWorks 653 includes ARINC 653 drivers, interface support and a deterministic Ethernet network. The preconfigured system includes a Distributed IMA demo application, TTEthernet switches and end systems as well as two single-board computers. The Distributed IMA architectures have support for reconfiguration, predictive maintenance, incremental modernisation NASA and ESA have commissioned the design of an autonomous lander to collect samples from the surface of Mars to be returned to Earth (writes Nick Flaherty). There are three steps to the project. NASA’s upcoming Mars 2020 rover will collect up to 31 samples and place them in pen-sized canisters. These are left on the Martian surface for retrieval by a second mission with a ‘fetch rover’ and a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). The fetch rover would then roam the surface autonomously to find the samples and return them to the MAV, placing them in a single container. The MAV will then lift off to dock with an Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) to transfer the samples, and the ERO then returns to Earth. and certification to enable developers and systems integrators to develop modular, scalable and optimised integrated architectures. The system can be used for the rapid prototyping and development of autonomous systems using advanced IMA architectures and applications that need to have avionics approvals. Airbus is developing designs for the fetch rover and the ERO. The rover is a very different design because it has to be agile and highly autonomous to be “This class of architectures provides design patterns that are also at the core of the existing automotive ADAS [autonomous driving assistance systems]. That makes it suited to future automated aircraft and autonomous UAV applications,” said Bernd Hirschler at TTTech. able to take on the task of recovering the samples. The designs will have to be approved by ESA in 2019 for the mission in 2026. Airborne vehicles Space systems Avionics up to standard Designs on Mars rover TTTech’s Distributed IMA system meets the RTCA DO-297’s requirements Artist’s impression of the MAV lifting off to take the rover to the return orbiter