Rugged PC, data link

RCS-600 SOFTWARE BY AMPOL

The dataMARS product family is an exceptional solution for flight-data recording and analysis, completely integrating an airborne recording unit with powerful ground analysis software.

Proven Field Success

Both the United States Army and Navy have decided to use the dataMARS-RCS as one of their standard solutions for flight-data recording and post-analysis, installing it on their flight-test aircraft. Furthermore, AMPOL's flight recorders (dataMARS104 and dataMARS-RCS) are currently being used on board a variety of aircraft worldwide, including modern carriers, fighter jets (F-16, F-15, F-4, F-5 and MIG-21) and various rotary wing platforms (AH-1W, AH-64A/D and CH47).

Capabilities

The airborne flight-data recorder unit records flight data from multiple diverse data buses and signals. While recording, the unit also displays monitored engineering-unit data, enabling quick and informed decision-making during and between flights.
Graphic User Interface. Click to enlarge RCS-600 on RCS-PC Platform

Once on the ground, the unit's pocket-sized, media cartridge can be easily removed and taken to the lab, where the powerful Windows-based dataMARS post-analysis software immediately accesses and analyzes the data, with no downloading required.

Finally, the dataMARS post-analysis software provides advanced data presentation, manipulation, interrogation, reporting and exporting capabilities.

Seamless integration between the data recording unit, removable recording media and ground analysis software, as well as with elimination of any download time, means that the dataMARS-RCS solution is complete, efficient and ensures that the entire testing process is streamlined. With many successful installations worldwide, this solution is proven and reliable.

Features and Benefits of the dataMARS-RCS

	Streamlines work to save time: The dataMARS-RCS 's recording media can be removed and installed on a standard PC for immediate analysis, making post analysis efficient and easy.
	Realtime analysis: The dataMARS-RCS has the revolutionary ability to analyze data in real-time. The analyzed data, unlike the raw data recorded by conventional systems, enables decision-making during the flight.
	On-line data analysis on the ground: The attachment of a standard VGA monitor, mouse and keyboard makes pre-flight testing, unit integration and communication debugging simple, as the dataMARS-RCS unit is already configured and wired to the aircraft.

Integrates multiple types of communications: The dataMARS-RCS integrates the diverse communication data types operating aboard the aircraft, encompassing flight and mission data alike. It supports MIL-STD-1553, ARINC-429, PCM, Ethernet, video, voice, serial channels, analog/discrete signals and many others.

Adaptable and upgradeable: The dataMARS-RCS is constructed of a modular design that can be easily adapted to address your specific needs and changing project requirements. The dataMARS-RCS is generic, enabling easy upgrade and flexibility.

	Complete turnkey solution: The unity of the dataMARS-RCS recording unit and extensive dataMARS real-time and post-analysis software provide the most thorough monitoring solution available.

	Reliable and rugged: The dataMARS-RCS unit is SOF (Safety of Flight) tested, flight qualified and can withstand severe environmental conditions. Compact and easy to install, the unit is self-cooled and operates autonomously from a 28 VDC power source. The dataMARS-RCS uses either solid-state or hard-drive recording media, with the storage capacity for hours of flight time.

Recording Media: Industry standard 2�� disk, fully PC-compatible Various capacity options, Hard-drive 80GB or Solid-state disk up to 34GB Real-time compression of recorded data Growth potential for higher capacities Data Sources Up to 12 dual-redundant MIL-STD-1553 buses (Special option to operate as BC/RT) Up to 16 ARINC-429 channels (12.5kHz, 100kHz) Up to 5 10/100baseT Ethernet connections IRIG-B or internal time tagging on all recorded data. Option for GPS 1PPS sync Power 80Watt @ 18-32VDC (typical), up to 185 Watts depending on configuration Dimensions & Weight (with base and shock isolators) 225X265X500 (WxHxL) [mm] Weight approx.16.5Kg Connector's Panel BES Systems tailors the Flight Recorder's Panel of Connectors per Customer's requirements. Environmental Operating Temperature: 0�C - 55�C Optional Extended temperature range. Non-operating Temperature: -20�C - 85�C Relative humidity: Up to 95% relative humidity, non-condensing, MIL-STD-810E Salt Fog: 5% solution per MIL-STD-810E method 509.3 Vibrations: MIL-STD-810E Category 9 (per MIL-STD-167) Shock: MIL-STD-810E for flight equipment 15g, 11ms saw tooth Altitude: 20,000ft (or the equivalent atmospheric pressure) operating and non-operating EMI/RFI: MIL-STD-461C Categories CE03, RE02, RS03, CS02 Fungus: MIL-STD-810E Sand and Dust: per MIL-STD-810E

	Message Structure Database The dataMARS and dataSIMS products use an ICD database to enable extraction of engineering-unit data from monitored and replayed communication messages. This database describes the data format of individual types of messages, as well as the engineering-unit elements they contain. The mapping and encoding details of these elements are then used to decode their engineering-unit values during monitoring and replay. These values are displayed in graphical and numerical displays, and are also presented in the different report types supported by the software. Engineering-unit element settings also enable detection of illegal (alarm) element values and mapping of values to text. When simulating engineering-unit data via dataSIMS, the ICD encodes the data into a transmitted raw message

	Data Display The dataMARS and dataSIMS visualize recorded and replayed data using a wide variety of graphical and alphanumeric displays. They offer display formats that show engineering-unit values in plots, needles, bars and numbers, as well as display formats that show the complete messages and sequences of messages. You can create display setups that include multiple display pages with hundreds of displays for elements, messages and streams, without losing speed and efficiency.
	Virtual Panels Virtual Panels are a major add-on package option that simplifies access to monitored and simulated data by constructing realistic looking front panels from an extensive library of gadgets. You can use these panels to control a real piece of equipment, as well as simulate or create virtual equipment that can communicate on a live bus. Virtual Panels can also be useful in emulating and testing a proposed front panel design, in order to simplify the user interface for data monitoring. Virtual panels may be extended to include new types of displays and ActiveX controls. A provided SDK allows the creation of custom controls. Virtual Panels are useful in mimicking the look, feel and operation of real equipment used by the pilot by presenting the recorded data via "real-life" controls. The intuitive interface is especially helpful for users who are not familiar with the dataMARS and dataSIMS systems.
	Post-analysis Capabilities The dataMARS and dataSIMS offer superb post-analysis capabilities for recorded data. Supported recordings include those created by dataMARS, dataSIMS and the dataMARS104-II systems. Recordings made by recorders from other vendors may also be imported for analysis. Post-analysis is performed on engineering-unit values decoded from the recorded data, which are displayed using a variety of presentation formats, and reported in flexible reporting formats. Specific events and conditions can be searched for in the recorded data, and calculations may be performed on it to extract new information to be displayed and reported alongside the recorded data. Recorded data may be exported to other third-party tools, such as Excel� and MatLab�. Data from multiple sources are replayed synchronously, based on recorded time tags. The data may be replayed at various rates, such as 1:1 and full speed. Aside from the engineering displays that show recorded
	Data Reporting and Exporting A variety of ASCII reports can be generated from the recorded data. These include engineering-unit values, results of additional calculations based on monitored data and the raw data of complete messages. Reports may be generated for either complete recordings or for selected portions of them. Report templates may be used to generate multiple reports for numerous data recordings in a single batch process. Use other optional conversion tools to convert recorded data to various third party binary formats. Reported data may be used in Excel�, MatLab� and other tools for dedicated analysis and presentation. Reports may also be distributed to other interested parties
	Custom Data The dataMARS and dataSIMS make it possible to incorporate and integrate custom data communications channels into the system in order to utilize its monitoring, display, storage, post-analysis and database capabilities. They provide you with a driver (with full source code) that you can easily modify to receive and transmit custom data. This driver may be used for the monitoring of custom hardware, custom RS232/422 protocols, GPS data, analog I/O and more. Custom data are monitored and simulated alongside standard protocols (for example, MIL-STD-1553 or ARINC-429), which re-emphasizes the complete and system-wide approach taken by the dataMARS and dataSIMS
	MIL-STD-1553 Monitors all or selected bus traffic, and detects communication errors. Decodes engineering-units data from monitored MIL-STD-1553 messages.
	ARINC-429 Monitors multiple high- and low-speed ARINC-429 channels, and detects communication errors. Decodes engineering-unit data from monitored ARINC-429 labels. Uses a comprehensive built-in database of standard ARINC-429 labels, as well as provides support for user-defined label formats.
	PCM Monitors PCM transmissions and decodes their engineering-unit data. Decoding supports SFID and FCC major frame synchronization, super-commutated and sub-commutated data. Uses various bus interface cards to feed PCM data and clock information to the PC.
	Ethernet Monitors TCP, UDP and IP transmissions either passively or as an active node. Identifies packets and frames by source/destination address and port. Decodes engineering-units data from monitored transmissions at any protocol layer Tracks sockets and decodes stream data. Easily customized to support custom network protocols (based on IP, UDP or TCP).