Mini-Multi Interface Box Simulator (MMIBS)

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering Vol. 1024; no. 1; pp. 12100 - 12107
• Main Authors: Barea, A, Doblado, J G, Crespo, D, Garcia, A, Soldado, I, Barrera, G, Leopoldo, A, Prats, M M, Cabanas, R M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Aeronautics; Aircraft; Aircraft maintenance; Assembly lines; Avionics; Commercial aircraft; Controller area network; Electronic devices; Functional testing; Ground tests; Interfaces; Maintenance costs; Man-machine interfaces; Military aircraft; Portable equipment; Repair & maintenance; Simulation; Stability; Troubleshooting
• ISSN: 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/1024/1/012100

Today's military and commercial aircraft avionics and general systems are built around complex networks of intelligent devices. Maintenance and troubleshooting of these systems often require access to the data bus or networks connecting the system components. Whether it is on the integration test bench, Final Assembly Line (FAL) or at the Maintenance and Repair Organization (MRO), these tasks are usually performed by means of many, expensive, heavy and intrusive equipment. The MMIBS (Mini-Multi Interface Box Simulator) is a very compact, portable, multipurpose, lightweight, low-power, and easy-of-use electronics test means intended to improve digital aircraft ground testing and maintenance troubleshooting. It is capable of perform functional testing and simulating aeronautical equipment through most common aeronautical communication interfaces, such as AFDX, CAN BUS, ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553, RS-422, RS-232, RS-485, Discrete and Analog I/O and RVDT (Rotary Variable Differential Transformer) reading capabilities. Besides, the system is highly configurable and reprogrammable by means of intuitive Python-based scripting. System is also able to be controlled with an intuitive, user-friendly and dedicated HMI (Human Machine Interface). In this mode, the user can conform a MMIBS WIFI network, allowing multiple MMIBS operating in parallel to cover complex testing scenarios. The MMIBS device integrates all the aeronautical communication and signaling in a volume of 12x12x12cm and weight of 1200g and provides an autonomy of 5 hours. In this way, our solution combines performance, reliability, low maintenance costs, and ease-of-use to support efficient ground maintenance operations.