Engineering work station for rapid proto-typing of real time display systems

The Displays Engineering Work Station (DEWS), a real-time, flexible, low-cost system used to support electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) development and demonstration activities, is described. Eight different DEWS systems have been developed from the original concept. Each is specifically tailored to meet a unique development, verification, or demonstration requirement. DEWS has been used to supply real-time simulated test data to avionic line replaceable units by ways of ARINC 429, ARINC 629, discrete, analog, and syncro inputs. It has been used to capture real-time test data from laboratory aircraft simulators by way of ARINC 429 data buses. It has been used to drive liquid crystal displays in a proto-typing and demonstration environment. EFIS application software development and debugging have also been supported using this platform, as well as simulation of graphic rendering hardware. DEWS is based on the PC 386 system with the VRTX real-time kernel