The Experimental Autopilot is equipped in the D-CODE research aircraft from DLR. The system can control the aircraft automatically or manually in all three axes.
The experimental interface serves for automatic routing and the mode control panel serves for manual routing. On top, it has an automatic pitch trim and selective yaw damper.
Components:
- Flight Control Computer – FCC 9300
- Mode Control and Monitoring Panel - MCMP 9300
- Experimental Display - EXPD 9350
- Mode Control Panel – MCP 6400
- Safety Pilot Monitoring Panel – SPMP 6300
- Data Concentrator Unit – DCU 9900 (Stack-On Board)
- Data Concentrator Unit – DCU 9950 (Firewall)
The Flight Control Computer establishes a high-performance computing platform, with the capability of high performance communication over multiple interfaces at the same time. For a higher level of safety involvement, a command and monitor architecture was implemented.
The main processing platform consists of a Microsys MPX-8349 computing module introducing a Freescale MPC8349E @533 MHz microprocessor, with 256 MB DDR-SDRAM and 128 MB Flash-Memory.
To achieve high bandwidth communication, the main processing module is accompanied by two ST Microelectronics STM32F107VC microcontrollers with multiple peripherals. The micro-controllers run at 72 MHz speed and provide 64 KB SDRAM and 256 KB of flash-memory.
System interfaces:
- Power
- CAN
- RS-232
- RS-422 / 485
- Discrete inputs
- Discrete outputs
- Analogue inputs
- ARINC 429 inputs
- ARINC 429 outputs
The Mode Control and Monitoring Panel is an instrument panel that displays the main information of an advanced autopilot and related systems.
System interfaces:
- Power
- Discrete inputs
Power consumption: 12.5 W @28 VDC
Weight: 1,050 g
The Experimental Display is an instrument panel that works as an ordinary display for general purpose. It has VGA and DVI video inputs to display data from customers’ experimental systems. Also a touch screen as human interface device is integrated.
System interfaces: Power
Power consumption: 8 W @28 VDC
Weight: 1,150 g
The Mode Control Panel is an instrument panel that controls an advanced autopilot and related systems. The MCP is called such because it contains controls that allow the crew of the aircraft to select which parts of the aircraft's flight are to be controlled automatically.
System interfaces:
- Power
- CAN
- RS-232
- Discrete Inputs
- Discrete Outputs
- Master Switch
Power consumption: 5 W @28 VDC
Weight: 750 g
System interfaces:
- Power
- Discrete inputs
- Lamp outputs
- Audio output
Power consumption: 0.6 W @28 VDC
Weight: 320 g
System interfaces:
- Power
- Can
- RS-232
- RS-422
- Discrete Inputs
- Discrete Outputs
- GND Based Analogue Inputs
- Differential Analogue Inputs
Power consumption: 8 W @28 VDC
Power Weight: 1,000 g
System interfaces:
- Power
- Can
- RS-232
- RS-422
- Discrete Inputs
- Discrete Outputs
- Analogue Inputs
Power consumption: 3 W @28 VDC
Power Weight: 400 g