Avionics data-bus controllers with TTP® technology – 20 years of ensuring flight-critical communication and still going strong
The commercial aviation sector has some of the highest safety standards and certification requirements of any industry. This is particularly true for the avionics which in modern aircraft control mostly safety-critical functions whether it is the landing gear or the climate control inside the cabin. TTTech Aerospace has proven expertise in delivering reliable and certifiable data handling solutions for avionics as it has been supplying all leading aircraft manufacturers worldwide with components, software and complex modules since a quarter century by now.
DO-254 certified, cost-efficient data communication controller for avionics
TTTech Aerospace introduced the first generation of its highly reliable communication controllers to the market in 2002. They are based on the Time-Triggered Protocol (TTP), a data-bus technology further developed by TTTech and standardized in SAE AS6003, together with leading suppliers like Honeywell Inc. This deterministic data-bus enables distributed real-time systems. Although initially not aiming at a specific domain, the aviation market has become the main application area of TTP® while its fault-tolerance and deterministic behavior make it highly suitable for other markets with stringent safety requirements like, for example, railways or nuclear power generation.
TTPControllers from TTTech Aerospace meet the market’s need for a cost-efficient, certifiable avionics data-bus solution which is superior to legacy data-buses like MIL-1553, ARINC 429 or CAN, as TTP is self-synchronizing and not prone to a single point of failure. They are designed for use in safety-critical real-time applications, such as flight, engine, or environmental controls. This data-bus controller was one of the first devices to go through the DO-254 certification process worldwide.
Long-term, reliable supply chain partnership
The TTP software and chip IP were developed by TTTech Aerospace, and the controllers have been manufactured by ams OSRAM, a global leader in intelligent sensors and emitters for more than 20 years. Alvaro Soares, Director of Product Management and Customer Programs at TTTech Aerospace, sees the long partnership as a reason for the successful market position of the TTPController: “Amid the intense global pressure for stable supply chains, we are thrilled to rely on a local partnership with ams OSRAM in Austria. Their commitment to high quality standards, especially in the aviation industry, demonstrates stability and resilience to re-design and re-certification risks arising from component obsolescence.”
More than two billion flight hours with zero safety-critical defects
TTTech Aerospace has long standing supplier relationships with large commercial aircraft system providers, such as SAFRAN, Honeywell, Parker Aerospace, and Collins Aerospace. They have used TTP as internal data-bus for many years in the areas of engine control, power distribution, or primary flight controls. These safety-critical subsystems are typically certified to the highest design assurance level (“DAL-A”). Examples for aircraft models using TTP are Embraer Legacy/Praetor 450/500, the Airbus A220, and the Airbus A380. TTTech Aerospace’s TTPControllers already reached more than two billion flight hours with zero safety-critical defects.
Alvaro Soares, in discussing the applications of TTP, highlights its suitability for safety-critical systems that demand higher bandwidth than legacy protocols (such as MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429): “Remarkably, TTP achieves this without imposing the additional size, weight, and power impact associated with a switched architecture. Certified to DO-254 and DO-178B Level A, TTP ensures determinism and synchronized behavior, ultimately reducing system costs and integration complexity. Notably, our customers value TTP’s longstanding presence in the market, particularly within mature avionics data-bus technologies. These proven solutions have been instrumental in international aerospace programs, effectively mitigating program risks and costs. Furthermore, the longevity of our off-the-shelf component, the TTPController, which is expected to remain in production for 30 years, is a rarity in an industry grappling with technology and component obsolescence. This enduring availability and reliability stands as a significant advantage.”
TTP communication controllers: Key component in TTTech Aerospace’s solution range for avionics
One size does not fit all and in a market as large as the aviation sector, there are a wide range of use cases, with different requirements. While certifiability, safety, and security are common topics, data networks on an unpiloted aerial vehicle (UAV) and a commercial airliner will differ.
In new, data-intensive applications, e.g., for the advanced air mobility (AAM) market, high data bandwidth and a minimized cable harness are especially important. A mixed-criticality network that allows traffic of different criticality levels to use the same physical medium and network could be a better option to reduce system complexity and lifecycle costs. For this, TTEthernet® is a proper solution. TTEthernet can serve as the “digital backbone” to which TTP-enabled sub-systems can be connected and synchronized to. The data communication rate in TTP is not far from the 100 Mbit/s of ARINC 664 part 7 (also known as AFDX®), but TTTech Aerospace’s certifiable TTEthernet switches offer up to 1 Gbit/s per port, fully bi-directional.
Certainly, avionics require technology and components that can comply with the high safety standards for safety-critical systems. TTPControllers and their related software drivers are proven solutions which have been developed and certified according to the DO-254 and DO-178B/C standards. They fulfill the needs of low- to medium bandwidth applications very well and are part of a wider range of solutions for current and future avionics provided by TTTech Aerospace.
Find out more:
- The Time-Triggered Protocol (TTP) and its history
- Solutions for commercial aviation
- TTTech Aerospace on board the Embraer E-series
- Rotorcraft and vertical lift
- Advanced air mobility (AAM)
- ams OSRAM: ASICs from Austria ensure you have a safe flight
More information about our long-term partner ams OSRAM’s ASIC capabilities
