Introduction to Avionics Systems

Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgements. 1: Introduction. 1.1. Importance and role of avionics. 1.2. The avionic environment. 1.3. Choice of units. 2: Displays and man-machine interaction. 2.1. Introduction. 2.2. aHead up displays. 2.3. Helmet mounted displays. 2.4. Computer aided optical design. 2.5. Discussion of HUDs vs HMDs. 2.6. Head down displays. 2.7. Data fusion. 2.8. Intelligent displays management. 2.9. Displays technology. 2.10. Control and data entry. Further reading. 3: Aerodynamics and aircraft control. 3.1. Introduction. 3.2. aBasic aerodynamics. 3.3. Aircraft stability. 3.4. Aircraft dynamics. 3.5. Longitudinal control and response. 3.6. Lateral control. 3.7. Powered flying controls. 3.8. Auto-stabilisation systems. Further reading. 4: Fly-by-wire flight control. 4.1. Introduction. 4.2. aFly-by-wire flight control features and advantages. 4.3. Control laws. 4.4. Redundancy and failure survival. 4.5. Digital implementation. 4.6. Fly-by-light flight control. Further reading. 5: Inertial sensors and attitude derivation. 5.1. Introduction. 5.2. Gyros and accelerometers. 5.3. Attitude derivation. Further reading. 6: Navigation systems. 6.1. Introduction and basic principles. 6.2. Inertial navigation. 6.3. Aided IN systems and Kalman filters. 6.4. Attitude and heading reference systems. 6.5. GPS - global positioning systems. 6.6. Terrain reference navigation. Further reading. 7: Air data and air data systems. 7.1. Introduction. 7.2. Air data information and its use. 7.3. Derivation of air data laws and relationships. 7.4. Air data sensors and computing. Further reading. 8: Autopilots and flight management systems. 8.1. Introduction. 8.2. Autopilots. 8.3. Flight management systems. Further reading. 9: Avionic systems integration. 9.1. Introduction and background. 9.2. Data bus systems. 9.3. Integrated modular avionics. 9.4. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS). Further reading. 10: Unmanned air vehicles. 10.1. Importance of unmanned air vehicles. 10.2. UAV avionics.

Dick Collinson has had "hands-on" experience of most of the systems covered in this book and, as Manager of the Flight Automation Research Laboratory of GEC-Marconi Avionics Ltd. (now part of BAE Systems Ltd.), led the avionics research activities for the company at Rochester, Kent for many years.

He was awarded the Silver Medal of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1989 for his contribution to avionic systems research and development.

"The book deals with both civil and military avionic systems. Good in-depth coverage is provided on topics such as displays, fly-by-wire controls, navigation, autopilots and flight management systems and system integration. It provides much theoretical information and calculations, particularly aimed at graduate and post graduate students. There is also a chapter on UAVs, vehicles which are rightly described as being "dependent totally on avionic systems". These are currently and increasingly used in military applications and also, in the future, for civil applications. [...] The book is very well illustrated in both black and white and colour. Very comprehensive lists of reference documents are provided. A glossary of terms and a list of symbols are provided which are particularly useful to the student readers. [...] The book provides a wealth of detailed and current information on a very wide range of topics. Inevitably, in such a dynamic industry, it will become out of date but it is written in such a way as to allow it to fill a very important gap in the aerospace literature for some years to come." (Royal Aeronautical Society)"... the material gives the reader an excellent and comprehensive introduction to the multidisciplinary knowledge and skills essential for involvement in any modern avionics systems development. [...] It should be essential reading for all graduates involved in aerospace systems work and those entering the avionics industry. It will also provide an excellent reference for practicing system engineers. [...] It is more than just a reference text and I would recommend it to all those with an interest in integrated airborne avionic systems."M.V. Cook, Cranfield University, IEE Computing adn Control Engineering, Oct/Nov. 2005