Author_Institution :
US Naval Air Syst. Command, Washington, DC, USA
Abstract :
The history of fiber optics technology development for naval aircraft is reviewed, and the current status of network and fly-by-light flight control development is examined. Fiber-optic component selection for aircraft is addressed, covering the fiber and cables, optical sources, couplers, and connectors. Novel fault-tolerant network topologies for both analog and digital fiber optic transmission, which will permit both packet- and circuit-switched operation of robust fiber optic networks are discussed. The application of smart skin technology, i.e. fibers embedded in composite materials, to optical computer backplanes is briefly considered.<>
Keywords :
aircraft communication; circuit switching; computer interfaces; fault tolerant computing; local area networks; optical links; packet switching; protocols; analogue transmission; circuit-switched operation; computer interconnects; digital transmission; fault-tolerant network topologies; fiber optic networks; fibre-optic component selection; fly-by-light flight control development; naval aircraft; optical computer backplanes; packet-switched operation; protocols; severe avionics environment; smart skin technology; Aerospace control; Aircraft; Computer networks; Fault tolerance; Network topology; Optical computing; Optical fiber cables; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fiber networks; Optical fibers;
