eSAFE - Emergency Safe Return for CS23 Aircraft

Motivation

Im Rahmen des Projektes Emergency Safe Return for CS23 Aircraft (eSAFE) soll für Flugzeuge der Within the scope of the Emergency Safe Return for CS23 Aircraft (eSAFE) project, an automatic emergency flight guidance, including emergency landing, for the EASA CS23 category aircraft in case of a sudden in-flight pilot incapacitation or certain technical problems is to be developed.
After activating the emergency button on board, an airfield with an approach route is automatically determined taking into account dynamic air traffic data. The flight route, the switch to landing configuration, the final approach and the landing itself are fully automatic.

Objectives

• Implementation of an efficient, safe and comfortable air transport system.
• Fly-By-Wire
• Flight control system.

Content

The basis for implementing and flight testing the entire "emergency landing function" is an existing fly-by-wire avionics platform, which is based on the safety-critical X-By-Wire platform (IST-PEIT Powertrain with Equipped Intelligent Technologies, FP6-SPARC Secure Propulsion using Advanced Redundant Control), as in three experimental airplanes from Daimler AG. As part of the FP7 project SAFAR (Small Aircraft Future Avionics Architectures), basic avionics functions were implemented and validated on a Diamond DA42. 

In the German LUFO IV joint research project FLY SMART, further avionics functions will be implemented and made available to the eSAFE project.
In addition to the development of emergency functions, their integration into the existing fly-by-wire platform, validation by flight testing (DA42), the research project also focuses on the qualification and certification of such an emergency system.

Methodology

An FBW system essentially represents a general platform exemplar with high flexibility in terms of structure, hardware, communication and software. The core element is a middleware that can be implemented in all modules of the platform, covering all aspects of communication, platform error management including sensors and actuators, Byzantine agreement formulation, as well as the entire operations management of the platform. 

Through the middleware, the applications see only a virtual simplex single-processor system, that is, none of the platform complexity including the distribution, fault tolerance and redundancy. The middleware for a specific use (entire FBW system) is obtained through specialisation, which is conducted with a tool suite. 

The tool suite opens up further possibilities for process automation, namely the mostly automatic creation of development documentation and test cases for the FBW system (applications are excluded). This represents a significant addition to today's technology and is the basis for a significant reduction in the development expenditure of future FBW systems.

Expected results

Within the scope of the cooperative R & D project Emergency Safe Return for CS23 Aircraft (eSAFE), the autonomous and safe home guidance of LCAT aircraft (see Fig. 2.1) in emergency situations (in-flight pilot incapacitation) are investigated and the required functionality is realised in a qualifiable and certifiable form (HW / SW). The implemented technical solutions are validated through a 6-DOF simulation and flight tests on a test device (fly-by-wire equipped Diamond DA42 from the FP7 EU project SAFAR - Small Aircraft Future Avionics Architecture / LUFO IV FLY SMART collaborative projects) and tested for their practical application.

Outcome

• Verifiable functionality by means of flight tests and records
• Basis for certification specifications according to CS-23.

• Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH - Coordinator
• FH Joanneum GmbH
• Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH
• TTTech Computertechnik AG

Funding program: TAKE OFF