Commenting on the company's J-UCAS involvement, Dr. John Ferrie, President, Smiths Aerospace said, "This win marks the next step in Smiths' actuation control from our new Vehicle Management System. We look forward to continuing a long and successful relationship with Northrop Grumman."
“This win marks the next step in Smiths' actuation control from our new Vehicle Management System. We look forward to continuing a long and successful relationship with Northrop Grumman.”
In addition to this win, Smiths has recently delivered the program's first electronics including vehicle management computers (VMCs) and remote input / output units, plus mission computers for the surrogate air vehicle. The vehicle management computers are the heart of aircraft avionics, acting like the vehicle's central nervous system. The triple-redundant J-UCAS VMCs are the backbone of the air vehicle's computers, networks, and interfacing electronics, and together with the Smiths-supplied redundant mission computers, will host all of the airplane's avionics, flight controls and utilities functions. The system will replace dozens of traditional, standalone computers and data busses fitted to present day aircraft.
Smiths combined systems make it the largest non-partner equipment supplier to the Northrop Grumman X-47B J-UCAS programme. Should X-47B J-UCAS enter production, Smiths' total contract value could potentially be worth more than $300 million over the life of the program and includes the following systems:
-- Engine interface unit -- Electrical power generation
-- Engine throttle actuators with and distribution systems
Eaton Aerospace -- Mission management computers
-- Landing Gear System, including -- Remote input / output units
-- Holdback bar mechanism for the -- Fuel probes, fuel
carrier catapult system measurement and management
through partnership with
-- Retraction actuation for the Argo-Tech
landing gear
-- Vehicle management computers -- Ground-based data link
computer
Notes to editors.
About the mission computers
Just as an aircrew shares the burden of flying the vehicle and operating the sensors, the mission computers and VMCs are integrated to execute combat missions. The dual mission management computers (MMC) that Smiths is supplying are the same design as the VMC; but extended with solid state mass memory. The system interface is a general-purpose design that implements the subsystem interface for both the VMC and the MMC.
About remote input / output units
The remote input/output (RIO-1394) product is a part of Smiths RIU product family which has been used on several military programs. The RIO was recently fielded to support the F-35 and is a major contributor to saving weight in the aircraft by eliminating the need to install several hundred feet of analog discrete signal wires to the VMC from remote locations.
The RIO-1394 provides digitization of analog, discrete, and fuel probe signals from the vehicle and provides an output via IEEE-1394 interface to Smiths' VMC for further processing. The RIO also converts the commands received from the VMC to analog and discrete outputs for controlling various functions in the aircraft. A total of nine units will be utilized per aircraft.
About the vehicle management system
Smiths is supplying the vehicle management computers (VMC) for the X-47B, which Northrop-Grumman is developing for DARPA's Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS). In addition to Guidance, Navigation, and Flight Control, the VMC automates the other system functions that an aircrew performs on a manned vehicle. The triple-redundant VMCs exchange system state and control information to detect faults by means of approximate consensus; and manage the redundant components to provide fail-operational service.
The system is easily scaled to a quad configuration, and in 2003, Smiths demonstrated an innovative approach to start, vote, synchronize, and restart a quad modular system. The open hardware and software architecture is easily adapted or extended to different vehicles and changing applications. The distributed system architecture is built on IEEE 1394 communication network technology, which has emerged as the standard for next-generation manned and uninhabited vehicles.
About electrical power generation & distribution
Each electrical power generation system (EPGS) produces 80kW @ 270Vdc. Each generator is a totally integrated, modified version of the F/A-18E/F VSCF; that is, the EPGS package includes all control & conversion electronics integrally-mounted in a single unit along with three (3) independent, isolated, regulated PMG-based 28Vdc Converter/Regulator outputs (powering Smiths' VMC, Mission Computers). Smiths' growing family of integrated EPGS offers the highest power density by weight / volume of any generator system available. Smiths' approach to integration offers aircraft designers the utmost in air vehicle layout flexibility.
The High Voltage Distribution Units (HVDUs) being supplied are for distribution of current-protected 270 Vdc power on the air vehicle. These units provide the interface between Ground Power, Emergency Generator, Smiths-produced Main Generator and the 270 Vdc loads on the air vehicle. This award augments our selection on other Northrop Grumman UAV programs, and solidifies Smiths as the leading supplier in HALE / MALE UAV Electrical Power Systems.
About fuel measurement & management
The team of Argo-Tech and Smiths Aerospace will provide the system engineering, analysis, components, integration and support for the J-UCAS air vehicle fuel system. The fuel measurement and management software will execute as hosted applications in the Vehicle Management Computer.
About Smiths Aerospace
Smiths Aerospace is a leading transatlantic aerospace equipment and systems company, with more than 10,000 employees and $2 billion revenue worldwide. Smiths Aerospace holds key positions in the supply chains on all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufactures supplying integrated solutions. Strategically organized businesses focus on systems in digital computing, electrical power, mechanical systems, engine components and customer services. www.smiths-aerospace.com
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