The LINK2000+ Test Facility Presentation Eurocontrol LINK 2000+ Programme October 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS The Test Facility objectives...2 The Test Facility description...2 ATN routers...2 Air and Ground Test Tools...3 ATN/VDL-M2 Air-Ground Test System...5 Avionics Pallet...7 How the Test Facility is used by LinK2000+ Partners...9 Avionics perspective...9 ANSP perspective...10 ACSP perspective...10 Achievements...13 Upcoming in Q4 2004...13 Page 1
The Test Facility objectives The LINK2000+ Test Facility is located at the Eurocontrol Experimental Center (EEC) at Bretigny-sur-Orge in France. It is part of the EEC Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN)/VDL Mode2 laboratory. The main objective of the LINK2000+ Test Facility is to support the validation of operational CPDLC services and ATN/VDL Mode2 infrastructure for both air and ground implementations before they are approved in an ATC operational environment. The LINK2000+ Test Facility provides an inter-operability testing platform for the LINK 2000+ baseline and offers: - support to Avionics suppliers and Airlines on CPDLC/ATN/VDL-M2 interoperability testing, - support to Maastricht UAC and other ANSPs (Air Navigation Service Providers) implementations on CPDLC/ATN interoperability testing, - support in deployment of LINK2000+ ATN/VDL-M2 Air-Ground and Ground-Ground infrastructure for ACSPs (Air-Ground Communication Service Providers). The Test Facility description The LINK2000+ Test Facility platform includes the following components: - interconnected ATN routers to build an ATN topology in the LAB, - a set of ATN End Systems hosting the CM/CPDLC application air and ground test tools, - one VDL-M2 test system from ARINC (AGTS) emulating a real VDL-M2 environment, - one avionics pallet with avionics equipment from Rockwell Collins (other avionics pallets will be added as the products become available from vendors). ATN routers A set of ATN routers supporting ICAO SARPs compliant protocols (CLNP and IDRP) are hosted on SUN, HP-UX, and LINUX PCs workstations. They are all linked together in order to build an ATN topology in LAB for testing purposes. These routers are interconnected via X.25 static circuits through the Test Facility X.25 Newbridge switches. ATN connections and adjacencies with the LINK2000+ partners (ARINC, SITA, Maastricht ) are managed via the Test Facility s main router, the ProATN operational ATN router from Sofreavia. ISDN and X.25 networks (Equant-SITA and TRANSPAC) are used for interconnection with external sites. Page 2
LINK2000+ Test Facility ATN topology Air and Ground Test Tools System architecture The LINK 2000+ test tools are hosted on COMPAQ PC LINUX workstations equipped with Wanware X.25 boards. The test tools include ATN software and CPDLC application software from Airtel ATN: ATN lower layers, with support of X.25 and LAN SNDCFs ATN Upper Layers, CM and CPDLC Application Service Entities (ASEs) CM/CPDLC applications software based on TCL/TK HMIs Page 3
AIR/GROUND TEST TOOL HMI Airtel CPDLC/CM ASEs ATN Upper Layers COMPAQ EVO PC Linux OS Wanware X.25 boards Lan integrated interface Airtel TAR-TTS BIS/ES X.25 Access Ethernet Access CM and CPDLC Applications LINK2000+ Test Tools System Architecture The air and ground CM applications manage CM Logon and CM User Abort functionalities. The key components of the Test Tools are the CPDLC applications as described below: Connectivity Management Air and Ground CPDLC Test Tools support CPDLC connections (CPDLC Start, CPDLC End, CPDLC User Abort) with possibility to handle multiple aircraft on the ground test tool. Messages sets CPDLC Air and Ground Test Tools Implement LINK2000+ Baseline Air and Ground CPDLC message sets and support single and concatenated messages uplink and downlink. Support of Error Test Cases Both tools support test of error cases to check the robustness of the remote system under validation; this includes: - availability to send invalid message sequences, - availability to send invalid message identifiers or references, - availability to send the Logical Acknowledgment (LACK) back or not, - availability to generate unsupported messages. Automatic messages The CPDLC test tools manage automatic generation of erroneous messages: those messages convey an invalid reference number that automatically generates ERROR messages sent back by the remote side (no controller/pilot action requested). The erroneous messages are sent with a configurable period from 1s to 300s. Page 4
This functionality is used in order to evaluate the robustness of the remote system (stress situation) and to check continuity of VDL-M2 coverage during flight trials. Logs of events On both tools CPDLC messages are captured in a trace window (one window per aircraft on the ground side), and all uplink and downlink exchanges are logged for further analysis. LINK2000+ Test Tools CPDLC main and logging windows ATN/VDL-M2 Air-Ground Test System The main objective targeted by Eurocontrol with the air-ground test system facility is to get a system in the LAB functionally as similar as is possible to the operational system: - for verification of VDL-M2 intended functioning, - to have a close look at VDL-M2 Handoffs, - to be able to conduct end-to-end CPDLC testing in LAB via VDL-M2, - to get expertise on the Maastricht ACSP VDL-M2 equipment, - to help in investigations of real environment VDL-M2 problems. The core component is the ARINC VDL-M2 AGTS Page 5
It is operationally equivalent ATN/VDL-M2 capable Test facility It includes two VGSs and associated VDRs It includes Variable RF attenuators for simulation of live mobile environment It includes ATN A/G BIS and G/G BIS routers It allows registration of traces in VGSs and monitoring of the VDL-M2 traffic from a third VGS/VDR set It includes two control PC units ARINC AGTS installed at the EEC Page 6
Avionics Pallet The avionics currently installed at EEC LAB is a Rockwell-Collins avionics test rig consisting of the following components: Communication Management Unit CMU-900 Aircraft Personality Module APM-900 VHF Data Radio VHF-920 Multi-Function Control and Display Unit CDU-3000 Avionics pallet with Rockwell Collins equipment Page 7
In the LAB, the avionics set is connected to the Air/Ground test system through coaxial cable as shown on the diagram below. The objective is to perform Interop Testing between the avionics and the Ground Test Tool in a first step, and then further on between the avionics and ANSPs ground implementations. Avionics Pallet VDL M2 Air/Ground Test system:agts CMU VDR Coaxial Cable Network MCDU Vdl-2 radio Vdl-2 radio Ground Test Tool Equipment VGS Control Unit G/G router A/G router Avionics, ARINC AGTS and Ground Test Tool Synopsis Page 8
How the Test Facility is used by LinK2000+ Partners Avionics perspective Testing with an avionics vendor or airline follows the sequenced approach described below: The avionics partner defines an Interoperability Test plan at CM/CPDLC level for his own system In a first step the avionics is evaluated in a LAB to LAB configuration against the Test Facility Ground Test Tool(s). Evaluation includes Interop. testing defined by Avionics, as well as extra test cases such as: - Error Test cases: LACK not sent back, invalid Msg Id or Msg Ref included in a message, unsupported message sent to the air implementation, - Exercise of continuous flow of erroneous messages to test the robustness of the remote air system (this is called Tuning test ). In a second step an avionics pallet is installed at the EEC. This pallet is connected via coaxial cable to the ARINC AGTS: evaluation is performed again in front of the Ground Test Tool. Aircraft VDL-M2 handoffs behaviour is checked while exercising tuning tests from the Ground Test tool with configurable period from 10s to 3s interval. In a third step the Avionics pallet is installed in the NLR experimental aircraft. The objective is to check the aircraft behaviour during VDL-M2 handoffs in a real VDL- M2 environment while performing flight trials over Maastricht Upper Area airspace. Evaluation is done in front of the Ground Test Tool with tuning test at 10 seconds period interval. Finally testing sessions may be offered to airlines from their own test bed in order for the pilots to get some confidence in the ATN/CPDLC application installed on board. Testing Aircraft Avionics Airline Test bed ATN VDL-M2 Avionics Simulation Avionics LAB X25 / ISDN Ground TT Ground TT EEC Lab ARINC AGTS Avionics Pallet Page 9
Avionics Testing Architecture ANSP perspective Testing a ground implementation follows the approach described below: First, the ANSP defines an Interoperability Test plan at CM/CPDLC level for his ground system The ground application is then evaluated in a LAB to LAB configuration against the Facility Air Test Tool. Evaluation includes Interop. testing defined by the ANSP, but as well extra test cases exercised from the Air Test Tool such as: - Error Test cases: LACK not sent back, invalid Msg Id or Msg Ref included in a message, unsupported message sent to the ground implementation, - Exercise of continuous flow of erroneous messages to test the robustness of the remote ground system (also called Tuning test ). Finally, the ground ANSP application is tested against an Avionics Pallet (real aircraft equipment connected to the ARINC AGTS. This allows the ground application to be tested with realistic round trip delays, with aircraft processing VDL- M2 handoffs situations as offered by the AGTS ATSP application ATC Center X25 / ISDN Avionics Pallet Air TT EEC Lab ARINC AGTS Ground TT ANSP Testing Architecture ACSP perspective Any ACSP ATN/VDL-M2 infrastructure deployed in the context of LINK2000+ is validated by Eurocontrol following an Acceptance Test plan: The Acceptance process includes an evaluation period consisting of: - Verification of compliance based on documents provided by the ACSP - Tests performed from the ACSP LAB to EEC LAB, - Live trials conducted with an Experimental Aircraft. Page 10
Live trials are performed with an aircraft provided and operated by Eurocontrol, the NLR Citation II aircraft PH-LAB based at Amsterdam-Schipol, with Rockwell Collins ATN/VDL-M2 avionics installed on board on a similar pallet as at the EEC Test Facility. The main objective of the live trials is to validate the coverage and performance delivered by the ACSP in the Maastricht Upper Area airspace by exercising continuous end to end CPDLC traffic between the avionics and the EEC ground Test Tool. NLR Citation PH-LAB aircraft Avionics equipment used in NLR Citation PH-LAB aircraft Page 11
The evaluation period is followed by an observation period of three months where airlines contracting the ACSP are flying over Maastricht Upper Airspace Page 12
Achievements Rockwell Collins: validation of CMU 900 LINK2000+ Baseline, Jul-Aug 03 Validation of the CMU 900 LINK2000+ Baseline compliant software, from Rockwell Cedar Rapids LAB to EEC LAB, and then with real avionics pallet at EEC connected to the ARINC AGTS. This was followed by flight trials with the NLR Citation aircraft. Maastricht: validation of LINK2000+ Baseline, Oct-Nov 03 Interoperability Testing between Maastricht LINK2000+ ground implementation and the Facility Air Test Tool followed by Interop Testing between Maastricht implementation and Rockwell Collins avionics pallet at EEC. ARINC: validation of ATN/VDL-M2 infrastructure in Europe, Sept-Oct 03 Flight trials, involving the Test Facility Ground Test Tool, with NLR experimental aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins avionics, to validate ARINC ATN/VDL-M2 network deployed in Europe for LINK2000+. SAS: Preparation of Certification flight, Dec 03 Testing sessions from SAS Airlines test bed via real VDL-M2 environment to prepare the SAS ATN/CPDLC Certification flight. Testing sessions to bring SAS pilots confident in the new ATN/CPDLC application. SITA: Validation of ATN/VDL-M2 infrastructure in Europe, Jul-Sept 04 Flight trials, involving the Test Facility Ground Test Tool, with NLR experimental aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins avionics, to validate SITA ATN/VDL-M2 network deployed in Europe for LINK2000+. Air Europa: Preparation of Certification flight, June-Aug 04 Testing sessions with Boeing from Seattle laboratory, to validate Rockwell Collins CMU 900 equipment installed in B737 for delivery to Air Europa. Testing session to prepare the Air Europa ATN/CPDLC Certification flight. Upcoming in Q4 2004 FedEx: Preparation of Certification flight Testing sessions from FedEx laboratory in Memphis to prepare the FedEx ATN/CPDLC Certification flight on B737 equipped with Rockwell Collins CMU 900. ATI: Preparation of Certification flight Testing sessions from ATI grounded aircraft in Toulouse to prepare the ATI ATN/CPDLC Certification flight on A300 Beluga equipped with Rockwell Collins CMU 900. Honeywell: Validation of CMU-Mark II Validation of the CMU-Mark II LINK2000+ Baseline compliant software from Honeywell laboratory in Redmond. Page 13