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Fly-By-Wire Flight Control For Sikorsky S-92 And H-92 Helicopters To Use BAE SYSTEMS CsLEOS' Real-Time Operating System

13 Nov 2003

An open-architecture real-time operating system by BAE Systems has been selected for use on the fly-by-wire flight control system on Sikorsky Aircraft Corporations S-92 medium-lift helicopter and its military derivative, the H-92 SUPERHAWK. The CsLEOS™ operating system will underpin the computer that governs the operation of the main and tail-rotor control surfaces on the helicopter.

The operating system that runs an aircraft flight control computer must be exceptionally robust, said Milan Dedek, CsLEOS product manager for BAE Systems Aerospace Controls. Our system was developed specifically for use on flight controls and other mission-critical aircraft systems and is ideally suited to this use. We are proud that CsLEOS has been chosen to demonstrate its capabilities on this high-profile program.

The S-92 and H-92 fly-by-wire flight control will consist of flight control computers, pilot control sticks, and sensors for processing aircraft pitch, roll, and yaw data. The embedded CsLEOS RTOS will operate the flight control computers. BAE Systems will develop and produce the flight control system at its facility in Johnson City, N.Y.

An ARINC-653-compliant, fault-tolerant, hard-real-time operating system, CsLEOS was designed from the ground up for safety- and mission-critical applications that place a premium on security, predictable real-time response, and testability. Utilising hardware memory protection, CsLEOS provides complete time, space, and resource partitioning between the kernel and applications operating on the same hardware platform. It also assures resource availability in both the time and space domains.

This combination facilitates the robust partitioning defined in ARINC 653, enabling applications with different DO-178B safety levels to run concurrently on the same processor. CsLEOS also supports on-the-fly application rescheduling, giving it the flexibility needed to meet a broad range of dynamic safety-critical applications.

To assure fast recovery for time-critical events without compromising system safety, CsLEOS synchronises all redundant channels on a frame-by-frame, lock-step basis, ensuring that all channels process the same data concurrently. In the event of a fault on one of the channels, the RTOS restarts the channel within milliseconds. To further enhance fault tolerance, CsLEOS provides a built-in health monitor. Unlike approaches that require system responses to be hand-coded into the application, CsLEOS allows developers to define their applications, responses to faults and store them separately in configuration tables. This approach enhances flexibility and guarantees that faults will be resolved reliably and in a timely manner.

To streamline application development, upgrades, and D0-178B certification, CsLEOS supports independent loading of application modules. Unlike approaches in which a portion of the kernel must be linked to each application, CsLEOS interacts exclusively with applications through its applications programming interface. This enables existing applications to be modified and new applications to be built and installed without the entire system having to be recompiled and rebuilt. This flexibility makes the system less expensive to test, certify, and maintain, greatly reducing life-cycle costs.

The H-92 SUPERHAWK, unveiled at this years Paris Air Show, is a multi-mission helicopter designed to provide unprecedented levels of safety, reliability, maintainability, and mission flexibility. The platform is Sikorskys candidate for the impending replacement program for Marine One, the U.S. presidential transport mission. In addition, the U.S. Air Force has identified a combat search and rescue version of the SUPERHAWK as the preferred alternative for an upcoming program to replace more than 100 PAVE HAWK aircraft.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The company designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years and is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately 12 billion through its wholly owned and joint-venture operations.

BAE Systems North America is a high-technology U.S. company employing more than 25, 000 people who live and work in some 30 states, the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom. The company is dedicated to solving its customers, needs with highly innovative and leading edge solutions across the defence electronics, systems, information technology, and services arenas.

BAE Systems Aerospace Controls is a unit of the companys U.S.-based Platform Solutions Sector, part of BAE Systems North America. The Platform Solutions Sector is a leading global supplier of integrated electronic control products, subsystems, and man-machine interface systems for air, space, sea, and ground vehicles. Based in Johnson City, New York, it employs approximately 6,400 people at 12 facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

BAE Systems, innovating for a safer world.