IMA Integrated Modular Avionics for Licensed Personnel

With the changes in the Easa Part 66 and 147, the three new technology modules are added. They are ATA 42, 45 and 46. In preparing for the modules, I am doing secondary research through the internet and later, to be enrolled in a course. One possible training provider is the Club 66.

1. OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the project is to prepare myself for the module ATA 42 - Integrated modular avionics

2. LITERATURE REVIEW.
a. Definition
Quoted (Philippa)..Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) is a blanket term used to describe a distributed real-time computer network aboard an aircraft. This network should consist of a number of computing modules capable of supporting numerous applications of differing safety criticality levels.

Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_modular_avionics ) defined it as ...Integrated modular avionics (IMA) represent real-time computer network airborne systems. This network consists of a number of computing modules capable of supporting numerous applications of differing criticality levels.

b. Historical Perspective
In the early 1980s, the avionics started to replace the mechanical functions in the commercial aircraft.  (Henning Butz 20xx). In early 1990s, the classical concept of "1 function = 1 computer" can no longer be maintained, due to the increasing number of demands for the computers. Then the designers came out with concept of multiple software with different criticality level operated within a single processor. It did solve the weight and number of computers, but it had lead to the "transparent fault propagation", which affect the reliability and the maintenance cost.

In 1995, Honeywell introduced the concept of "IMA" on B777, featuring...
- modularized cabinet packaging with
- "time triggered back plane data communication" and
- "application progam interface" API
- strong "SW/SW" partitioning
- HW/SW segregation
- precise fault monitoring
The IMA had proven to meet the reliability and the required performance.
  
The development on A380, focused on the open system.
The followings are the features.
- maintain the segregation features and the API services
- the proprietary cabinets and backplane solution were replaced.
- Introduced CPIOM (core processor-input output module) usinf ARINC 600 standard box.
- Aircraft Full Duplex (AFDX) of 100Mbit connecting the CPIOM.




REFERENCES
- Philippa at http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~philippa/IMA.html on 26 Dec 2012
- Wiki at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_modular_avionics on 26 Dec 2012