CoPilot for ARINC 429

CoPilot 429 is part of the CoPilot Family-a comprehensive software environment that interfaces to Ballard's MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, ARINC 708/453, and ARINC 664/AFDX hardware products. CoPilot uses and features common to all of those protocols are summarized in the CoPilot Key Features page. The examples below illustrate some of the features unique to the ARINC 429 databus.
Using CoPilot and one or more of Ballard Technology's ARINC 429 boards, users can easily analyze databus activity, quickly set up and run Bus Controller schedules, simulate Remote Terminals, and monitor, analyze, and export bus activity. While communicating with the databus, users can enter and display data in engineering units through simulated flight instruments or tabular displays. Data field and interpreter definitions can be saved to and retrieved from a user-maintained database. Strip chart displays, advanced monitor display features, and CoPilot's software playback mode simplify data discovery. The Automated Test Environment (ATE) implemented in the latest release opens up exciting new possibilities for creating and exporting certified test 429 procedures.
Other features include auto detection of remote terminals, error injection/detection, filtering of data before or after capture, and a moving map display. Ballard's exclusive scripting control allows CoPilot to be customized with user-coded or example scripts.

intuitive interface

The CoPilot workspace builds on the standard Windows® interface, with familiar tree structures, menu/tool/status bars, context menus, double-click commands, and drag-and-drop actions. The CoPilot workspace is an integrated set of windows and elements, including Explorer®-style trees in "dockable" windows. In addition, various view windows (for data display/editing) are hosted in the display area.

Hardware Tree Avionics buses and Ballard interface cards are represented in the CoPilot hardware tree The hardware tree defines the equipment and ARINC labels associated with each transmit or receive channel on each board The hardware tree can host multiple boards and avionics buses Project Tree Project windows and files are managed through the project tree Use the project tree to control the project membership and display/active states of each component View file information and add user comments in the project tree Context Menu CoPilot's context menus associated with each element in the hardware and project trees provide access to frequently-used commands through a single mouse click Double-clicking an element executes the bolded default listed in the context menu

Automated features

The use of CoPilot is simplified through automated features.

On Start-up CoPilot initiates a search for Ballard Technology boards in the host Identifies and adds the board type and, channel configuration to the hardware tree At Run Time CoPilot detects the Equipment ID and channel speed of all active receive channels Detects and adds all incoming messages (labels) to the hardware tree Adds label descriptions Links each label to the appropriate interpreter from the ARINC 429 database Translates binary data for each message to an engineering unit value

Engineering Units

Transmit and receive labels are moved to a display window through a drag and drop operation. Users may place all labels listed for the board, all labels associated with the channel or individual labels into a display window through this method. Labels and fields can be assigned to multiple display windows.

Labels defined in the ARINC 429 database are automatically displayed in engineering units. Label number and description, SDI, SSM, parity, error condition, channel, Equipment ID and name are displayed in separate columns. Data is continuously updated when the databus is active. Users may also override the engineering unit default and display individual messages in binary, octal, or hexadecimal form.

Customizable Database

CoPilot translates ARINC 429 based on the specifications defined by the most recent publication of the ARINC 429 protocol (Mark 33 Digital Information Transfer System (DITS) ARINC specification 429-16). This publication provides a listing of all recognized avionics systems (referenced by Equipment ID) and a definition of labels received or transmitted by each system. This information is encoded in the CoPilot database.

Users may modify or add equipment, label, or field information and save it in the CoPilot database.

establishing transmit values

Engineering Units Editor Transmit labels are typically defined in engineering units through a slidebar editor. The changing values are transmitted continuously when the editor is open. Data Generator Alternatively, transmit values can be created through the CoPilot Data Generator using one of eight data generator methods. Hardware Playback With CoPilot Plus you can record data in the CoPilot's Sequential Monitor and replay all or portions of the data on the ARINC 429 databus xx

Data Recording

During a CoPilot session users can simultaneously record and display information in the powerful Sequential Monitor. With CoPilot, you can capture all data on a fully loaded databus. In fact, you can capture data indefinitely when every channel on a Ballard Technology ARINC 429 board is fully loaded!

 - Specify capture filter by label, channel or board level 
 - Display in engineering unit detail or compressed into brief mode for quick review 
 - Focus on selected data through display filters 
 - Print or export data for use within other applications. 
 - Replay all or portions of the data on the ARINC 429 
 - View monitored data through CoPilot tables, virtual instruments, strip charts, and map views

Monitor View Windows Monitor View windows are used to host, display, save and segment monitored data New monitor views can be activated anytime during the run to organize the data into more usable sets Controls on the monitor view allow users to start and stop monitor collection process while CoPilot is running Four display options (Full, Brief, and two user-defined formats) allow users to view monitored in a full detail or summarized form Alternate time tag and unit descriptions are available Monitored data can be viewed as data is received, analyzed after the data capture is complete, and saved as part of a CoPilot project

Capture and Display Filters Capture filters selected through the hardware tree establish which board (databus), channel or labels will be saved placed into the monitor view Display filters, which can be defined prior, during or after data capture define which data will be visible in the monitor view Display filters can be engaged or disengaged through the On/Off button Display filters can also be used to control which data is printed, exported, or used during hardware playback

Monitor Analysis Options Monitored data can be viewed and analyzed within the monitor window, exported and viewed through other applications or used as a playback source. Monitor Window: Plot data values, search for special conditions, compare data values and view a summary, view label summaries Print or Export: All or portions of the data to be viewed in Excel or other applications Software Playback: Replay and view monitored data through the CoPilot software (CoPilot Plus) Hardware Playback: Modify (optional) and replay all or portions of the data onto the ARINC 429 databus (CoPilot Plus)

Label Summary Access the summary table of all monitored labels with counts, average, range and other statistics Summary data can be exported to the project folder to document or utilize the results in another application

Plot All Data Points View the plot showing all data points for a monitored label Select one or multiple plots from a listing of monitored ARINC 429 labels Control plots individually through control properties.

Compare Records Compare the value and time tag of a monitored record to a baseline record Compare in engineering unit comparison or one of five Use display filters to focus on a specific label Bookmark selected labels for review or set boundaries for playback Add user comments to bookmarked messages

Search Records Use the search command to specify search criteria or bookmark options Use direction keys to locate records that meet the specified conditions

Export or Print Monitor Data Highlight record segments to identify selected records Print all or selected monitor records Export all or selected data as an Excel file or a tab-delimited file Export entire records or just data fields, and include the column titles Export all or portions of the data to Excel or other applications for analysis Records exported in the .RAW format can be imported into Monitor View