2017 International Conference on Communication, Control, Computing and Electronics Engineering (ICCCCEE),

Khartoum, Sudan

MODELING AND SIMULATION OF AIR

DATA COMPUTER
Elkhidir T. Yousif Ahmed Alamin M. A. Satti
Aeronautical Department Aeronautical Department Electrical and Electronics Department
Karary University. Karary University. AlMughtaribeen University
Omdurman – Sudan Omdurman – Sudan Khartoum – Sudan
khidirtay@gmail.com ahmedalamin22@yahoo.com asatti51@gmail.com

Abstract- Air Data Computer (ADC) is an electronics an inputs [4]. Simulation of ADC model has been faced
device computes air data flight parameters. The by two problems. The first one was to choose true
objective of this paper is to analyze, simulate, and values of dynamic temperature because it depends on
propose hardware implementation module for the Air flight altitude and airspeed. The second problem is that
Data Computer. Simulation of ADC model has been Mach number equation for Mach greater than one is
faced by two problems. The first one was to choose true implicit equation.
values of dynamic temperature because it depends on
This work propose modified model to avoid the first
flight altitude and airspeed. The second problem is that
problem, and using numerical methods to solve the
Mach number equation for Mach greater than one is
implicit equation. This work propose modified model to implicitly of Mach number equation. Furthermore,
avoid the first problem, and using numerical methods to analysis of the proposed model including methodical
solve the implicitly of Mach number equation. The errors and sensitivity has been introduced. The
proposed model has been implemented on proposed model has been implemented on
microcomputer base system. microcomputer base system. The system consists of
software and hardware. Software read input data,
Key words- air data computer, numerical method,
simulation, hardware implementation, computer based
computes, control, and display the calculated air data
system. flight parameters, while hardware consists of simulated
I. INTRODUCTION sensor data (power supply and potentiometers) and
Modern aircraft cockpits are supported by glass cockpit microcontroller.
in which the air data computer is the essential II. AIR DATA COMPUTER
component. This computer is the developed form of the The following figure shows the simplified ADC block
classical air data instruments: altimeter, Mach-meter, diagram
airspeed indicator, static temperature indicator and air
density ratio instrument. The computer is integrated
electronic device uses pitot tube pressures (static and
dynamic pressures) as well as dynamic probe to
calculate air data parameters and displays these data on
electronic display [1]. Furthermore, the calculated
parameters are available at the digital or analogue data
buses to be uses by the other systems. The first air data
computer patented in the US was developed by John H.
Andresen. In Airbus aircraft the air data computer is
combined with altitude, heading and navigation
sources in a single unit known as the Air Data Inertial
Reference Unit (ADIRU). This has now been replaced
by Global Navigation Air Data Inertial Reference Fig. (1) ADC simplified block diagram
System (GNADIRS) [3].
III. MATHEMATICAL MODEL
Mathematical model of real air data computer requires The ADC system can be modeled by mathematical
static and total pressures and dynamic temperature as relationships between its entries. It receives the input
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 2017 International Conference on Communication, Control, Computing and Electronics Engineering (ICCCCEE),
Khartoum, Sudan

data and computes the output data according to the implicit formulas such as Newton's iteration method,
following mathematical equations [1, 2, 3, 4 and 5] [2]. which is chosen for it is simplicity and accuracy [5].
Given a function f (M), set g (M) =M-f (m)/f'(m).
 Q 0.28571  Let P0 be an approximation to solution of f(m) = o
M = 5 c +1 −1 (1)
generate the sequence {Pn} recursively by the relation
Pn = g(Pn-1 ) n = 1,2,3… Convergence theorem of this
 PH   method state that "suppose that the function f(m) = 0 ,
has zero at m = p with f'(p) ≠ 0 and f''(m) is continuous
Where QC and PH are known as the dynamic
at m = p then there exist an ( beta > 0) such that if
pressure and the static pressure respectively. For
supersonic flight (for M > 1) the ratio of dynamic P − P0 <= β
. Then the sequence given by above
pressures to static pressures is given by:
algorithm converges to P Now we have:
Qc 166.92*M 7 Qc 166.92* M 7
= −1 (2)
f (m) = − +1 = 0
PH ( 7*M 2 − 1)2.5 PH ( 7* M 2 −1)3.5
(8)

The static temperature known as outside aircraft air (166.92)*7* M 6 *[2* M 2 −1]
temperature and can be defined by: f '(m) = − (9)
( 7* M −1) 2 3.5
TD
TH = (3)
Then f'(M) ≠ 0 for all M > 1, f"(M) is continuous
1 + 0.2 * M 2
Where (TD) is the dynamic temperature. for all M > 1. And we define beta > 0 such that:
Air density ratio is the ratio between air density at M − M0 ≤ β . Then the iterative method is
sea level and air density at altitude H, it is descried convergent.
by Let X = M – M0, then X = -f (M0)/f'(M0):
ρ H T0 * PH
= (4) Qc 1 6 6 .9 2 * M 7
ρ 0 T H * P0 +1−
(7 * M 2 − 1 )
2 .5
PH (10)
Where ρo and ρH are air density at sea level and at X = 6 2
1 6 6 .9 2 * 7 * M * (2 * M − 1)
altitude H respectively. Similarly T0 and TH are static
(7 * M − 1)
2 2 .5
temperatures at sea level and at altitude H respectively.
P0 is the static pressures at sea level.
True airspeed (Vt) is the physical speed of the aircraft  Qc  
 +1 *( 7* M −1)
2 2.5
 (11)
relative to the moving air mass. True airspeed given by: 7* M −1 2
P
 H  7
X= * − M
7* M 6 *(2* M 2 −1)  166.92 
Vt = 20.0479* M * TH (5) 



Altitude is the length between the aircraft center of Then: Mnew = Mold + X
gravity (C.G) and sea level. In standard atmosphere, the where X is the modifying term.
relation between altitude and ambient pressure is
defined as follow: V. PROPOSED MODEL
For H ≤ 11000 meter
To solve the dynamic temperature problem the ADC
P  model modified to be depends only on static and
H = 14.6373*(T0 + TH )*log  0  (6) dynamic pressures as input parameters. This can be
 PH  prepared by modifying equations (3, 6, and 7) to be as
For H >11000 meter follows (taking in our consideration temperature
P  varying with altitudes according to International
H = 11000 + R * T11 *log  11  (7) standard atmosphere (ISA) [6].
 PH  Case1: H ≤ 11000 meters
Where (T11, and P11) are the static air temperature and
T0   PH  
−R*α
static pressure at altitude H=11000 meters and (R) is
gas constant.
H =− 1−  
α   P0   (12)
IV. NEWTON'S ITERATION METHOD 
The implicitly of Mach number equation (2) is solved TH = T0 + ∝*H (13)
by using numerical methods. Many methods can solve Case2: H > 11000 meters
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 2017 International Conference on Communication, Control, Computing and Electronics Engineering (ICCCCEE),
Khartoum, Sudan

P 
H = 11000 + R * T11 * log  11  (14)
 PH 
TH = T11 (15)
Where ∝ is the temperature gradient.

The modified model for the ADC system is given by

the relations, which describes the flight parameters
(altitude H, airspeed V, mach number M, static
temperature TH and air density ratio) as function of the
input parameters (static and dynamic pressures)
described by equations (1,2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, and 15).

VI. ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED MODEL

For evaluating the proposed algorithm, iterative
software to solve ADC model has been developed
according to the following flowchart depicted in figure
(2).

Fig. (2) Flow chart of modified ADC

The output values for this model are compared with the
standard values. The allowable errors of normal
instruments are:
1. The average tolerable error for altitude is ±20 m.
2. The average tolerable error for airspeed is ±4.17
m/s.
3. The average tolerable error for Mach is ±0.02.
The simulation of ADC system results are presented on
the following figure (3) for three cases as:
1. Varying PH and keeping Qc constant.
2. Varying Qc and keeping PH constant.
3. Vary both Qc and PH.

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 2017 International Conference on Communication, Control, Computing and Electronics Engineering (ICCCCEE),
Khartoum, Sudan
(a) Altitude change with static pressure
(b) Mach change with static pressure
(c) Airspeed with static pressures
(d) Static temperature with static pressure
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(e) Mach change with dynamic pressure
(f) Airspeed with dynamic pressures
Fig (3) simulation results
VII. VALIDATION OF THE ADC PARAMETERS
Figure (4) depicted absolute errors for the simulated
ADC system calculated directly by differencing
simulated values from standard ones. These figures
show that the errors of the proposed ADC model
outputs are:
1. Maximum error of altitude is 0.9 m (fig (4.a)).
2. Maximum error of Mach is 0.2×10-4 (fig (4.b)).
3. Maximum error of airspeed is 0.06 m/s (fig (4.c)).
4. Maximum error of static temperature is 0.16 0 K
(fig (4.d)).
All of these errors are small than the tolerable errors
of normal instruments. This confirms that the modified
model can simulate the real model with acceptable
errors in all state of operation.
 2017 International Conference on Communication, Control, Computing and Electronics Engineering (ICCCCEE),
Khartoum, Sudan

(a) Altitude absolute error (d) Standard and simulated Mach

(e) Airspeed absolute error

(b) Standard and simulated altitude

(c) Mach absolute error (f) Standard and simulated airspeed

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 2017 International Conference on Communication, Control, Computing and Electronics Engineering (ICCCCEE),
Khartoum, Sudan
(g) Static temperature absolute error
(h) Standard and simulated TH
Fig. (4) ADC system absolute errors
VIII. IMPLEMENTATION OF ADC MODEL
The model comprises of three main modules; the
input, processing, and output modules. The input
module includes the input sensors for measuring the
pressures, and temperature. The function of the
processing module is to perform the required
operations and computations demands to calculate and
predict the required parameters. The output module is
concerned with monitoring and displaying the output
functions. The ADC system is based on computer
system that consists of hardware and software modules
based on a microcomputer.
The proposed ADC model is tested, using the
simulated inputs values representing static and
dynamic pressures according to the following
procedure:
1. Two DC. Voltage supply units are used to
simulate static and dynamic pressures (PH,
and QC) signals are connecting to AD1 and
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AD2 (analog input port) of the computer-
interfacing card (K8000).
2. Computer interface card (K8000) connected
to a computer.
3. LCD module connected to digital
input/output ports of K8000.
4. The developed software module of the ADC
system is loaded and executed.
Hardware connection is presented in figure ().
Fig. (5) H/W implementation
Fig. (6) H/W circuit connections
Validation the ADC model completed by testing the
complete system with full ranges of input values of
static and dynamic pressures. Results compared with
simulated results obtained from simulation of ADC
system, and with the standard values. It is found that
the results of the ADC system are identical with the
simulated results.
IX. CONCLUSION
The objective of this work is to analyze, design and
simulate of air data computer ADC model based on a
microcomputer. The real model employs static,
dynamic pressure, and dynamic temperature as an
inputs. The simulation of real model using the digital
computer has faced the difficulty of simulation of
dynamic temperature which depends on the real
condition of flight. A proposed model of ADC uses
only pressures, as an inputs is presented. Also
NEWTON'S iteration method is used to solve the
Mach number (M > 1) equation. Evaluation measures
of the proposed ADC model require the computation
 2017 International Conference on Communication, Control, Computing and Electronics Engineering (ICCCCEE),
Khartoum, Sudan

of the output parameters error. These errors are very

small and provide evidence that the proposed model
matches with real model in all states of operation. The
proposed ADC developed system include hardware
and software modules. Results of the implemented
proposed model was compared with those of the
simulated system it was found that results of the
proposed ADC are closed to results of simulated.

REFERENCES
1. E. H. J Pallett “Aircraft Instruments and
Integrated Systems” © Longman, 1992.
2. Esmat Bekir “Introduction to Modern Navigation
Systems” © 2007 by World Scientific Publishing
Co. Pte. Ltd.
3. Kim Wiolland “Air Data Computers” Avionics
News, 2015.
4. LU Yan-jum, and GUO Feng-juan “The Design
and Development of Analog Air Data Computer
based on ARM” 2nd International Conference on
Intelligent Control and Information Processing.
2011, pp 61-64.
5. Richard L. Burden, and J. Douglas Faires
“Numerical Analysis” 9th Edition, © 2011
Brooks/Cole, Cengage learning.
6. S. Nagabhushana “Aircraft Instrumentation and
Systems” I. K. International Pvt © 2010.

978-1-5090-1809-3/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE