Distributed Platform for Integrated Modular Avionics

Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA), Distributed IMA§(DIMA), and §Modular Certification are widely discussed approaches§in the §aerospace community at the moment. IMA deals with the§idea of §sharing hardware resources and integrating several§aircraft functions §into one hardware unit to reduce weight, space,§cabling, power §consumption and costs. DIMA architectures provide§more flexibility §to the used hardware by splitting it up into several§smaller units, §distributed all over the aircraft and connected by a§safety-critical §communication system. Modular Certification uses the§modularity §provided by those systems to split their§certification into several §parts, which reduces development time and effort.§Based on these §prerequisites, the concept of a distributed and§integrated platform §solution is introduced. It defines the constraints§and services §needed for implementing a modular certifiable and§flexible §platform, which is able to handle all safety-critical§functions in an §aircraft. This book discusses the platform s§attributes and §certification demands, identifies its requirements§and constraints §and considers its applications and business§opportunities.