Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A17-082

Description

To address the Army’s need for the reuse of graphical components and widgets used in modular avionics architectures within the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) community, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a novel Rapid and Agile Component Development (RACD) environment. RACD is based on POC custom and innovative widgets implemented using the ARINC 661 protocol and conformant to Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) to support a mission systems architecture (MSA to achieve modular avionics graphic software components usable across multiple hardware platforms including support for Army-supplied real-time operating systems. RACD environment comprises highly aligned graphic and user input functions loosely coupled with the avionics hardware and software architecture to create an airworthy human-machine interface that is easily modified and rapidly deployed. In Phase I, POC plans to demonstrate the RACD innovations applied to MSA for rapid integration of new capabilities through ARINC 661 and FACE feasibility. Specifically, we plan to utilize the J661 environment for the development of widgets for use in a Primary Flight Display (PFD). In Phase II, POC will develop a prototype based on the updated architecture that will lead to a proof-of-concept demonstration on representative avionics hardware and FACE conformance.