AFDX Network Simulation System Based on OPNET Modeler

Today, fully duplex Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX) has replaced the traditional aviation electronics transmission bus standards, becoming a new generation of aviation equipment networks. The AFDX network has been applied to the latest Airbus A380 aircraft. The AFDX network is based on the Ethernet standard with a maximum transmission speed of up to 100 Mbps, and redundancy management is added to enhance the stability of the network. At the same time, fully duplex links are used for data transmission, which helps reduce link conflict. However, the amount of research documentation on the AFDX network system is still limited, and the real-time testing and reliability of the AFDX network are actually very difficult for the researcher, so it is urgent to study network simulation methods. In this article, we explore AFDX with its network layer model, the node layer models of terminal aviation electronics systems, and the process layer patterns. Building an AFDX network system simulation is similar to the reality of OPNET software and assesses the quality parameters of the AFDX network system. Compared to traditional Ethernet, we found that the AFDX network has better Quality-of-Service (QoS) and adapts to more real-time tasks. This article contributes to the academic community by describing AFDX systems that are almost complete and meet the standards laid down in ARINC-664. In the near future, we will develop AFDX hardware based on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).