FH JOANNEUM and TTTech launch research project on low-cost fly-by-wire systems for UAVs

FH JOANNEUM GesmbH, Graz, and TTTech Computertechnik AG, Vienna, successfully launched the CAPTAIN research project. CAPTAIN stands for "COTS Airborne PMC card for Time-triggered Aerospace Interfaces and Networks" and aims at developing a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) embedded platform for low-cost flight control systems in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and General Aviation aircraft.

The PMC (PCI Mezzanine Card) standard is widely used in the aerospace industry for rapid prototyping, testing and flight hardware in UAVs. Within the CAPTAIN project a TTP-PMC Card will be developed, facilitating and accelerating the development of TTP-based onboard electronic systems for safety-critical applications. This TTP-PMC card will be an essential part of the TTP-based fly-by-wire platform to be used in the FH JOANNEUM's UAV project JXP.

"We are looking forward to expanding our avionics know-how with the application of TTP in flight control systems," says Dr. Holger Flühr, Team Lead Avionics and ATC Technology. "FH JOANNEUM's participation in CAPTAIN is evidence of the quality of our practice-oriented education," concludes Bruno Wiesler, head of the department of Aviation at FH JOANNEUM.

The UAV market is a booming industry that requires highly reliable COTS at low cost. Furthermore, the intended use of UAV in civil aerospace necessitates a high level of on-board system safety. TTTech's technology and highly modular TTP products are certified according to the aerospace standards in the commercial air transport industry and have been selected for Airbus A380 and Boeing 787.

"The developments that come out of CAPTAIN will simplify and accelerate the deployment of TTP-based systems in aerospace applications," says Reinhard Maier, TTTech's Aerospace Engineering Team Leader and CAPTAIN Project Manager.

CAPTAIN is co-funded by TAKE OFF, the Austrian national aerospace research program. It is the first joint research project for FH JOANNEUM and TTTech. FH JOANNEUM is contributing its substantial application know-how, as well as its experience with programming flight control systems, to the CAPTAIN project. In addition, FH JOANNEUM's aviation department acts as a long-term education and research partner to fill the growing demand for highly skilled aerospace engineers with TTP know-how.