Enhanced Dispatchability of Aircrafts using Multi-Static Configurations

This paper describes the reconfiguration strategy and mechanisms adopted in the Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) based platform designed and evaluated in the scope of the European research and development project DIANA. The mechanisms aim at improving dispatchability of aircrafts while keeping a reasonable and limited impact on certification costs. The paper first introduces the concept of multi-static reconfiguration i.e., a set of pre-qualified configurations from which the active one will be autonomously selected according to the system health state at system start-up. A configuration selection mechanism, exploiting a Byzantine Agreement algorithm, is discussed. Particular attention is paid to the proof of correctness of the adopted algorithm. Practical considerations concerning its implementation, like, for instance, the authentication protocol to be used are also considered. Finally, the implementation of the mechanism on top of an ARINC 653 Application Executive is briefly described.