Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned air vehicle employs 1394b FireWire in aviation vehicle management systems

Posted by Courtney E. HowardSAN FRANCISCO, 19 Sept. 2011. Officials at the 1394 Trade Association in Mukilteo, Wa., announced the deployment of IEEE 1394bFireWire as an aircraft vehicle management system (VMS) network in the X-47BUnmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D). The X-47B, developed by Northrop-Grumman Corp. under DARPA's J-UCAS program, is part of the U. S. Navy UCAS-D program designed to create a carrier-based unmanned aircraft. The X-47B’s advanced aerospace system combines IEEE 1394b with SAE-defined AS5643, the Mil-1394b standard, to deliver a reliable network backbone with predictable latencies for real-time control applications.FireWire also plays a networking role in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF); in fact, more than 70 1394 devices deliver information about mission details, communication systems, weapon systems, engine controls, and flight controls in the F-35 JSF.The 1394 Trade Association is a global standards organization dedicated to the enhancement and advancement of the IEEE1394 standard.