This task order is issued for boeing support to NASA for the arts IV integration with the research flight control system for F/a-18 #853. Summary: NASA is upgrading the research flight control…

This task order is issued for boeing support to NASA for the arts IV integration with the research flight control system for F/a-18 #853. Summary: NASA is upgrading the research flight control system (RFCS) installed on NASA F/a-18 #853 to achieve a higher computational capability for flight evaluations of advanced control systems. Included in this upgrade are additional flight control processors with a high speed 1553 bus link to the 68040 RFCS computers already resident in the F/a-18 fccs. The additional flight processors, termed the arts IV, will be high speed processor units linked with the four 68040 processors so as to provide at least fail-safe redundancy for mission critical software in the arts IV. The arts IV will be integrated with the RFCS in a way that minimizes time delay for the RFCS control law software that provide research flight and propulsion control commands. This support study will develop the system requirements and operational procedures for the RFCS integrated with the arts IV in a redundant architecture. This study will also provide information for the use of an arts IV simulator/lab unit to be used at boeing during the integrated tests and hils tests of the arts IV / RFCS units. Participants in the study include the arts IV supplier west virginia high technology consortium (WVHTC), BAE systems, boeing, and NASA. Objectives of the study are: 1)determine the protocol between RFCS units, including 1553 bus controller and receiver/transmitter functions, required data rates, and minimum time delays of the data transmissions.2)generate system requirements for the 68040 RFCS and its interface with the arts IV that will provide multiple channel redundancy and safety monitoring when the arts is integrated with the RFCS, including system modes, failure enunciation, and engage/disengage logic.3)document all tasks needed to fully develop and test the design and integration of the RFCS with the arts IV via a redundant 1553 bus. Statement of work:1)define the optimum interface between the current 68040 RFCS flight processors and the arts IV processors. Include functionality of 1553 RT (68040) and BC (arts IV) elements, high speed data rates and capacity, redundancy management, and required test functions for data transmission and data latency. Include mode selection and activation of the arts IV, and fault monitoring by the 68040 of the arts IV and the 1553.2)determine requirements and develop/modify 68040 code needed to implement RFCS-primary, RFCS-arts, and arts-primary modes (described in the F/a-18 conops document).3)prepare RFCS/arts IV interface control documents (ICD) jointly with WVHTC, and BAE.4)determine any changes necessary to pilot vehicle interface, including pilot selection of test modes for the arts IV, test mode selection and setup (i.e. row and column pre-sets), functions, system activation, system monitoring or ground test activation. 5)use a NASA provided simulation unit of the 1553 arts IV interface and conduct analysis and integration of the units comprising the proposed system. Integrate this simulation unit in concert with existing flight and laboratory hardware available in the boeing ST. Louis facilities to verify suitability for tests of the flight units (i.e. arts IV flight units, 701E, 68040, 1553, mission computer).6)develop a preliminary integration test plan for the 701E/RFCS/arts IV system. Participants in the test plan development include the arts IV supplier west virginia high technology consortium (WVHTC), BAE systems, boeing, and NASA.7)identify any changes required to the F/a-18 control laws or auto-throttle system to permit independent thrust control for each engine using the RFCS system.8)support NASA meetings and reviews of the RFCS for the F/a-18. Prepare a system operations description, and progress reports as required. As part of the review process, brief NASA on the software development and configuration management processes used to perform tasks under this S