Information fusion architectures for next generation avionics systems

In 1994, the Avionics Directorate of Wright Laboratory formed an Information Fusion Working Group (IFWG) to examine current fusion work, and identify future directions that the directorate should pursue in the fusion area. One of the recommendations the IFWG made was to develop an open modular avionics information fusion architecture. This paper focuses on this topic. It describes some of the issues associated with the development of an avionics fusion architecture and culminates into a description of a current avionics information fusion architecture design. This fusion architecture design is based on the four level fusion model that was defined by the Joint Director of Laboratories (JDL) Data Fusion Sub-panel. The main aim is to develop an open fusion architecture that will allow system designers the capability to re-use existing fusion algorithms