Design and realization of IMA simulation platform based on CPCI bus using VxWorks653 RTOS

Integrated modular avionics (IMA) is an electronic system consists of a set of processing modules and controller with standard formats, which is controlled by a real-time computer network. In an ARINC 653-based IMA system time and space should be strictly partitioned, which increases difficulty of software designing and testing. Currently, IMA software is tested and verified based on some technical specifications and settled hardware configurations, which no longer meets the fast growing demands of airborne software, as software testing depends on not only the software itself, but also the whole IMA system, including configurations and complexity. This paper introduces an IMA software testing method as well as a general IMA simulation platform, based on CPCI bus and Wind River´s VxWorks653 real-time operating system. This method aims at solving unpredictable distortions caused by time and space partitioning, through testing the IMA platform networks (Communications within the partition, Communication between different partitions of one module and Communication between different modules) and through testing the IMA hardware configurations like AFDX communications rather than software itself. In this paper, the integrated surveillance system (ISS) is tested and verified as an example. This method and simulation platform shows a different way to design, simulate, test and validate IMA software, which has an important influence on the reliability and safety of the IMA system.