787 Common Core System

Responding to the overwhelming preference of airlines around the world, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' new airplane is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a super-efficient airplane. The airplane will use 20 percent less fuel for comparable missions than today's similarly sized airplane. The key to exceptional performance of this aircraft is a suite of new technologies being developed by Boeing and its international technology development team.

An open architecture will be at the heart of the 787's systems, which will be more simplified than today's airplanes and offer increased functionality. The Common Core System (CCS) will replace traditional dedicated signal wiring with Remote Data Concentrators (RDC). The CCS is the backbone of the 787’s computers, networks and interfacing electronics and provides the primary computing environment for the Dreamliner. The RDC’s are designed to consolidate inputs from the aircraft’s systems and sensors and distribute it via the Avionics Full Duplex Switched Ethernet network and link sensors and effectors to a distributed computing resource through a dedicated communications network. This contributes significantly to the weight reduction.

The CCS Power Supply must meet DO-254 Level “A” as a critical system component. The analysis identifies areas of concern that need to be addressed by appropriate means. A verification process without such an analysis may leave some circuitry inadequately tested. As this process examines the tests against the hardware itself, it can detect deficiencies in the test procedures. Addressing the test deficiencies then provides additional confidence and evidence that the testing is sufficient, and the execution of new or amended test cases can then uncover errors in the hardware.

Belcan’s team has been a key member of the project ensuring DO-254 Level A compliance. Task A – Corner Case Determination – was performed by analyzing all functional blocks of circuitry and determining criticality, which functional blocks could be most impacted by various environmental and electrical parameters.

Task B - Case Coverage Analysis – required analysis of worst-case stimuli from a test case through the circuitry. This analysis was documented via the following:

• Schematic Markups – Working drawings were used as a semi-formalized capture of corner case operation.
• Worksheets – Captured the details of test cases vs. circuit nodes and accumulated the coverage analysis.

In addition, Belcan provided on-site personnel that continue to be key members of the product verification team. These analyses are a part of the comprehensive effort to assure safety of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner operation.