CoPilot® 429 and CoPilot 429 Plus

CoPilot 429 Summary

CoPilot 429 is an intuitive, graphical databus analyzer that simplifies the simulation and testing of ARINC 429-based avionics systems. CoPilot 429 is part of the CoPilot Family—a comprehensive software environment that interfaces to Ballard's ARINC 429, ARINC 708/453, and MIL-STD-1553 hardware products.

Using CoPilot and a Ballard ARINC 429 board, you can be transmitting and receiving on ARINC 429 databuses with just a few clicks of the mouse. Then, while the bus is running, you can observe and change data in meaningful engineering units. Features built into CoPilot 429 assist you in automatically detecting installed hardware and bus activity, and in building transmit schedules to meet ARINC 429 requirements. With CoPilot 429, there is no need to write software programs in order to access the capabilities built into our new generation of ARINC 429 boards.

CoPilot 429 Plus users can define or view information through virtual instruments, strip charts or map displays. They can also expand or customize CoPilot with VBScripts, replay all or portions of monitored data back onto the 429 databus, or review monitored data through CoPilot's powerful and unique software playback capability.

Project, data, and board configurations may be saved to file and reopened. Example projects and scripts, reference manual, online help, and tutorial guide are included.

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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

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Automated features

The use of CoPilot 429 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 429 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

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Engineering Unit Translation

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.

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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 429 database.

Users may modify or add equipment, label, or field information and save it in the CoPilot 429 database.

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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 429 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

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CoPilot 429 monitoring

During a CoPilot 429 session users can simultaneously record and display information in the powerful Sequential Monitor. With CoPilot 429, 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

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CoPilot OLE Automation

Customize and extend the functionality of CoPilot through OLE Automation technology. Use CoPilot automation to save time, create repeatable test sequences, or integrate CoPilot into a larger system.

Control CoPilot programmatically from third-party applications or programming environments (such as LabVIEW or C++) through the CoPilot Object Model

Example: In Microsoft Excel, run tests using CoPilot with the push of a macro button, pass data back and forth, and chart the results.
Control OLE Automation-compliant applications from CoPilot's Script View window

Example: Use a CoPilot script to launch Internet Explorer, browse to a website or directory, and publish CoPilot data to the web.

Host and edit documents/files from OLE Automation-compliant applications in CoPilot
Example: Open a Microsoft Word document in the CoPilot workspace, add and edit text, use the embedded Word menus and toolbars, and save the file.

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CoPilot 429 Plus

CoPilot Plus provides all the features of CoPilot Standard, plus 
 - a variety of graphical capabilities,
 - the ability to play back monitored data on the 429 databus,
 - customization and analysis capability through VBScripts and 
 - a unique software playback mode that allows users to replay monitored data.

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Graphical Displays

CoPilot 429 Plus graphical displays allow users to simulate aircraft instruments, view data values in strip charts, and create moving map displays.

Virtual Instruments The Quick View library of preconfigured controls can be launched in one step from labels/fields The Control View window hosts a library of ActiveX controls that can be used to define or display labels and fields through gauges, sliders, knobs, and a variety of aircraft instruments Controls can be selected from the library or generated automatically by dragging labels from the hardware tree into the Control View window Controls are updated continuously when CoPilot is running Controls can be customized easily through control properties dialogs or the property browser Easily add third-party ActiveX controls Controls and control links to labels can be saved in the ARINC 429 database for future use

Strip Charts Strip View is a two-dimensional charting control for displaying one or more streams of real-time data Labels/fields can be added via drag and drop prior to or during runtime Customizing options are available through the context menu and Strip View properties Static strip charts can also be created from the monitor file

Moving Map Map View is a container for displaying aircraft position on a fixed or moving map image by linking positional data to a real-time moving map display Positional data is linked to the display through a simple drag and drop assignment Users can supply background maps or automatically download free photographic or topographical maps from the Microsoft TerraServer while CoPilot is running Maps can be used with an active databus or with software playback

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Scripting Routines

Script View is a special CoPilot Plus component that allows users to extend the functionality of the CoPilot environment using VBScript. In most cases, CoPilot scripts reference object and object properties assigned by dragging one or more labels, fields, or other objects from the hardware tree to the Script View window. The automatic highlighting, color-coding, build-in diagnostics and other features simplifies development of custom scripts

Scripts could be used to respond to bus events, trigger monitor recording, create a sequence of unique data responses based on the value of incoming messages, or create programmable triggers interact with data transferred on the databus or to facilitate analysis during software playback transfer information between CoPilot and other applications (see CoPilot OLE Automation)

CoPilot comes with a library of sample scripts that illustrate how scripts operate within CoPilot. These are easily modified to create custom scripts.

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Software Playback

The CoPilot Plus software playback feature allows previously recorded data to be replayed through CoPilot as if being received from the bus. Consequently, monitored data to be viewed through engineering unit displays and instruments.

Limit the playback to a user-defined subset of the monitor record by setting the start and end index Focus the discovery through display filters Control the playback speed through options on the sequential monitor window, pause or step through the records on message at a time Use breakpoints to pause playback at specified points of interest Utilize scripts to identify critical data, facilitate analysis and create statistical information Create the new displays anytime during the process

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Hardware Playback

Data received from the 429 databus and recorded in the CoPilot Sequential Monitor can be played back onto the ARINC 429 databus.

A separate 429 transmit channel is used for each 429 system represented by playback Playback can be operated at the original speed based on time-tags or at a user selected speed The value of monitored data can be changed to test for special conditions The data source can be a Monitor View or a special hardware playback file Channel filtering allows the same playback source to represent different systems on different transmit channels

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Specifications and Requirements

CoPilot 429 can control Ballard's PCI, cPCI, PCMCIA, USB (BUSBox), ISA, or OmniBus (PCI/cPCI/VME/Ethernet/USB) family of ARINC 429 boards.

CoPilot 429 runs under Windows 95/98/NT/2000/Me/XP. Windows 98 or higher is recommended, and Internet Explorer® 5 or higher is required. If installing under NT 4.0, service pack 4 or greater is required.

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Latest Version

To check the latest version of CoPilot see the CoPilot Compare page. If you already own a recent version of CoPilot you may be able to upgrade to the latest version at no cost. Owners of older versions can upgrade to the latest version at a discounted price.

Click here for a summary of the new features in CoPilot 429

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Ordering Information

CoPilot 429 and CoPilot 429 Plus can be purchased as part of a CoPilot System (429 hardware and software) or separately. Buying a CoPilot System provides savings over purchasing these components separately. To order a CoPilot 429 System, use the appropriate order number below.

CoPilot 429 Standard System:	CS-xxx where xxx represents the appropriate ARINC 429 board (e.g., CS-LP43/4R4T combines a 429 PCI 4R/4T board with CoPilot 429 standard)
CoPilot 429 Plus System:	CP-xxx where xxx represents the appropriate 429 board

Owners of Ballard 429 boards can purchase a CoPilot 429 software component to create a CoPilot System. To order CoPilot 429 software only, use the appropriate order number below.

SW-429-CS (Standard) or SW-429-CP (Plus): CoPilot 429 software only. Includes CD with software, reference manual, Getting Started tutorial guide, online help, and example projects and scripts.

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