Vector signs agreement for licensed use of Airbus-developed AFDX technology

By signing a licensing agreement with Airbus and its EADS parent company, Vector is extending the application range of its CANoe and CANalyzer development and analysis tools to include AFDX networks (Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet). Multibus capability will now let developers analyze multiple aerospace bus systems - such as AFDX, CAN and ARINC 429 - time-synchronously in a single tool.

"In signing the license agreement for AFDX with Airbus and EADS, we are creating a foundation for use of this technology and are supporting it in its full depth. As the global market leader in tools for networked systems in automotive electronics, we can already offer a multitude of proven tools that can be applied to AFDX networks as well. This simplifies the simulation and analysis of complex networks in airplanes considerably, and potential design errors are detected much earlier," explains Martin Litschel, Managing Director of Vector Informatik GmbH. "Our very good cooperative relationship with Airbus over many years now will be further strengthened by taking this step. We are convinced that we will be making a significant contribution towards improving the development process for achieving reliable networked electronics in airplanes."

"Electronics developers in the aerospace field will benefit from Vector's 20 years of experience in the development, analysis and testing of embedded systems," adds Jürgen Klüser, Director of Avionics Tools at Vector. "As multibus tools, CANoe and CANalyzer are able to analyze AFDX communication in time relation to other networks such as ARINC 429 and CAN. Development and test engineers at airplane manufacturers, system suppliers and component manufacturers can use the CANoe software tool throughout the development process. Potential tool applications range from network design to comprehensive analysis and systematic testing of electronic units."

The option AFDX for CANoe and CANalyzer provides detailed access to the exchanged data down to the level of individual Ethernet frames. If the network description is available in the form of ICD files (Interface Control Document), the communication is decoded in detail. This not only permits representation of virtual links as numeric values, for example; they can additionally be referenced by their names. Similarly, the transported data can also be accessed by predefined signal names. Signals are displayed - simply and conveniently - in data or graphic windows. User-defined panels, which may contain pointer instruments or animated graphics, enable an especially user-friendly representation of values.

Vector's access to the AFDX technology is granted by a contract arranged through the EADS Technology Licensing initiative of Airbus parent company EADS.