Aircraft GNSS-based Precision Approach and RAIMS Simulations on a SimPit Platform

M. Serrano, L. Serrano

Abstract:	Aircraft SimPits (simulation cockpits) are hardware/software platforms designed to replicate civilian and military aircraft cockpits. The term Simpit refers mainly to amateur platforms as the commercial ones are just known as Flight Simulators [1]. These amateur cockpit platforms replicate, in a very simple and abbreviated form (and generally using very low-cost components as compared to commercial simulators), most of the functionalities of a real aircraft cockpit such as the auto pilot, CDU/FMS (Flight Management System), engine management, and navigation/communication modules. Moreover, with the standardization of “glass cockpits” displays in general aviation it became much easier for SimPits to create highly realistic panels. In commercial (and/or military) aviation these platforms are used to train crews and help validate new navigation, and aircraft guidance specifications such as RNP (Required Navigation Performance). However these platforms, due to their commercial nature and overall complexity, are just too expensive and difficult to maintain for small aircraft and engineering companies. Furthermore these Flight Simulator solutions suit specific aircrafts and specifications, therefore it would be more difficult to implement and adapt new procedures and requirements as compared to an open platform such as a SimPit. In this paper we cover the development of an Airbus A320 hardware Flight Simulator that serves as the backbone for aircraft GNSS-based guidance and RAIMS simulations. When using the concept of an open simulation platform we can obtain realistic aircraft positioning and attitude reference models from a running simulation. These are then transformed to ranging measurements and processed within SimNav’s GNSS navigation software. With this approach companies can validate aircraft navigation algorithms with increased efficiency, ranging from different stochastic and dynamic models, GNSS atmospheric modelling, and even different optimal estimators (such as the extended Kalman filter and the unscented Kalman filter for multi-sensor fusion). This allows a reduction in time and complexity throughout navigation software development cycle (thus optimizing costs), while at the same time keeping crews and technical staff working within realistic aircraft cockpit environments.
Published in:	Proceedings of IEEE/ION PLANS 2010 May 4 - 6, 2010 Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa Indian Wells, CA
Pages:	561 - 565
Cite this article:	Serrano, M., Serrano, L., "Aircraft GNSS-based Precision Approach and RAIMS Simulations on a SimPit Platform," Proceedings of IEEE/ION PLANS 2010, Indian Wells, CA, May 2010, pp. 561-565. https://doi.org/10.1109/PLANS.2010.5507310
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