More on CES and the Airbus 380
From the CES website, they say………….
Preassembled elements for aerospace are used by Alenia, Astrium, British Aerospace, Dassault Aviation, DIEHL, EADS Airbus, EADS CASA, EADS Defense Electronics, EADS Military Aircraft, L-3Com, Lockheed Martin, Rockwell-Collins and Thales.
And ….
Complete systems include network multiservice platforms and aircraft test systems. This activity is the most important part of CES' business. Used in conjunction with technology transfer and training services, it allows the user to integrate his own elements and build the application in an unrivaled short-time with guaranteed program success.
CES's AFDX test system (http://www.ukintpress-conferences.com/conf/aero03/pres/worm/index.htm)
is the relevant product here. Rockwell Collins is the lead contractor on this piece of the Airbus 380 project..
“Airbus has selected Rockwell Collins to provide the Avionics Full Duplex Ethernet (AFDX) switch for the new A380 aircraft. The switch is the first sole source selection for the new aircraft avionics suite. Rockwell Collins’ AFDX switch provides the communications infrastructure to connect aircraft systems including displays, radios and navigation sensors. The networked avionics system is expandable to support future requirements.”
Here is the CES piece….
“CES will supply the following parts:
· Flight Test Computers
· Test Equipment
· Multi purpose AFDX test resources
· AFDX Software Analyser
· AFDX Gateways”
forum.sbac.co.uk
For CES/MRV, this isn't the biggest piece of business in the world but it makes CES a rather important subcontractor on this high profile project involving the first use of Ethernet technology in the arena of commercial aircraft avionics. The revenues, which include ongoing maintenance and repair through the life of the aircraft, should not be trivial.. Also note that Rockwell has won a similar contract for the new Boeing 7E7 "Dreamliner"...
This trend towards using Ethernet technology in commercial aviation, which I don’t believe has gotten much press attention as of yet, is an interesting validation of the utility and robustness of Ethernet technology, (and of MRV's AFDX solution).
Hedgeclipper..
Misc urls.....
sfte.org
airforce-technology.com
airforce-technology.com
Condor April 2004 prweb.com
Rockwell Collins shareholder.com
forum.sbac.co.uk
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