Prototyping framework for digital flight control systems

Hardware-in-the-loop simulations are indisputably perceived as an integral part of the avionics design and development process. This paper describes a prototyping framework, which has been employed to develop a digital autopilot for a light sport aircraft. Related simulation processes have been performed on two different ground-testing levels. The first level consisted of a laboratory grade development and testing phase, which supported the initial functional estimate of the designed and implemented autopilot features. The subsequent testing level already included the embedded autopilot system installation on board of the test aircraft. System prototyping was performed at the light aircraft simulation lab SimStar at the Brno University of Technology. Additional ground simulations were employed to verify and ground test the operational suitability of the designed autopilot flight control system elements. The implemented hardware units were connected into the simulation network using the CANaerospace communication protocol. Simulations focused on the real time automatic flight modes operational scenarios and confirmed the anticipated performance of the autopilot design features.