Title:
Automatic Configuration and In-Mission Re-Configuration in Avionics Systems: Why, where, and how?
Authors:
M. Homolya, J.-P. Kühn, B. Lüttig, B. Annighöfer
Abstract:
Current avionics platforms rely on strictly static configuration data to comply with safety requirements. This ensures predictable behaviour but brings disadvantages in the platforms’ efficiency. Unused payload, rarely activated reserved bandwidth, and standby redundancy have a huge potential for improving network performance, reliability, resource allocation, and power consumption just to mention a few. The Plug-and-Fly Avionics Platform (PAFA) was introduced at the University of Stuttgart, demonstrating automatic configuration in a self-configuring octocopter testbed. This work extends the concept to a passenger aircraft cabin demonstrator. We evaluate the requirements, benefits, and limitations of automatic configuration and in-mission re-configuration. An important cornerstone of in-mission re-configuration lies within determining the trigger events and detecting the needs and conditions for re-configuration and deriving new configuration parameters. For instance, when introducing new systems in an aircraft, re-configuration must be limited to parts that actually support this new feature and the not effected system parts still must work. While this work aims at the less safety-critical cabin domain, there are interfaces within safety-critical aircraft domain. Whereas we do not intend the re-configuration of safety-critical flight-controls, we see potential in the automatic configuration of communication interfaces from the aircraft to the cabin domain, e.g., for health monitoring or cabin dashboards. This paper quantifies the need and potential applications for automatic configuration, how it potentially affects development cost and future technological benefits with respect to safe dynamic (re-)configuration.
Event:
Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2025, Augsburg
Location, Year:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn, 2026
Format:
21,0 x 29,7 cm, 7 Pages
Descriptors:
EN: avionics, configuration, re-configuration, automation
Citation:
Homolya, M.; Kühn, J.-P.; et al. (2025): Automatic Configuration and In-Mission Re-Configuration in Avionics Systems: Why, where, and how?. DGLR Published Conference Papers. Volume 4. (2026). ISSN: 2941-3451. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V.. (Text). urn:nbn:de:101:1-2603271054039.329858893576.
Publishing Date:
27.03.2026