Aerospace

Honeywell's Modular Aerospace Control (MAC) is a platform which permits cost-effective development of aerospace control systems. Thanks to its flexible foundation it is suitable for a large quantity of applications and accommodates changes in the development and production cycles. The robust MAC controls meet the requirements of critical aerospace applications in harsh environments. The opportunity to reuse proven elements accelerates development for new applications with low cost and low risk.

Among many other fields of application, it will be employed in auxiliary power unit controls, engine monitors, integrated utility systems, distributed controls, and multi-function Full Authority Digital Engine (FADEC) controls. When to be used in a FADEC system, MAC eliminates the need to develop engine-specific controls and replaces them with a customizable platform.

The high-speed data bus TTP with readily available commercial off-the-shelf chips and tools makes MAC also highly supportable. In MAC-based FADEC systems TTP is used as a backplane data bus for intermodule communication. TTP maintains independence among the system modules and allows changing or upgrading modules without affecting others. As a result the cost and risk of development as well as changes throughout the product life are lowered.

The flexibility of Honeywell's architecture and the reliability of TTP enable the design of scalable, adaptable, and fault-tolerant electronic engine controls. It can be used in different systems with minor modifications. Honeywell uses TTP-based MAC in General Electric's F110 FADEC system to be employed on the Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft. In addition, TTP is incorporated on the Honeywell F124 FADEC system to be used by the Aermacchi M-346 fighter trainer aircraft . As MAC simplifies changes and upgrades throughout the product life cycle, General Electric's F118 FADEC upgrade is currently developed with significant re-use from the F110 system.

"The MAC platform utilizes TTP that provides the foundation for new levels of engine safety, operational availability, and reduced life cycle cost. With TTP all information on the bus is available to both FADEC channels simultaneously."
Marc Schiff
F124/M-346 Program Manager
Honeywell