TTTech and FH JOANNEUM launch research project on low-cost fly-by-wire systems for UAVs
VIENNA, Austria -- Engineers at TTTech Computertechnik AG and academic experts at FH JOANNEUM GesmbH, a university in Graz, Austria joined hands to launch a research project called COTS Airborne PMC card for Time-triggered Aerospace Interfaces and Networks (CAPTAIN).
The project's goal is to develop a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) embedded platform for low-cost flight control systems in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and general aviation aircraft.
As part of the CAPTAIN project a TTP-PMC Card will be developed, facilitating and accelerating the development of TTP-based onboard electronic systems for safety-critical applications. This TTP-PMC card will be an essential part of the TTP-based fly-by-wire platform to be used in the FH JOANNEUM's UAV project JXP.
"We are looking forward to expanding our avionics know-how with the application of TTP in flight control systems," says Dr. Holger FlĂĽhr, team lead for Avionics and ATC Technology from FH JOANNEUM.
"The UAV market is a booming industry that requires highly reliable COTS at low cost," TTTech officials say. TTTech's technology and modular TTP products are certified according to the aerospace standards in the commercial air transport industry and have been selected for Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, company officials say.
"The developments that come out of CAPTAIN will simplify and accelerate the deployment of TTP-based systems in aerospace applications," says Reinhard Maier, TTTech's Aerospace Engineering team leader and CAPTAIN Project manager.
CAPTAIN is co-funded by TAKE OFF, the Austrian national aerospace research program. It is the first joint research project for FH JOANNEUM and TTTech. FH JOANNEUM is contributing its experience with programming flight control systems to the CAPTAIN project. In addition, FH JOANNEUM's aviation department acts as a long-term education and research partner to fill the demand for highly-skilled aerospace engineers with TTP know-how.
TTTech Computertechnik AG is a supplier of solutions in the field of time-triggered data communication. The company's products improve the safety and dependability of networked computer systems in the transportation and automation industries. The solutions are based on TTP and TTEthernet.
FH JOANNEUM GesmbH is an Austrian university for applied sciences. The degree program in aviation is characterized by state-of-the-art technical knowledge, relevance to practical applications, and economic understanding.
The Avionics and ATC Technology group deals with aspects of aeronautical Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS/ATM) as well as with topics like Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA), synthetic vision or flight safety/flight data analysis.
