In 2016 we began the very ambitious project of writing our own avionics stack for the Cirrus Perspective from scratch. This project was started even before G6 was released with the Perspective+ upgrade. We found out quickly that there is no manual or online resource to describe how an avionics FMS operates; that information lives in the minds of those professionals who have traveled the road before and accumulated the needed tribal knowledge.
We released our first version of software in 2020, and despite some limitations, it was well received overall and allowed us to meet the requirements for AATD and BATD approval. We quickly realized however that the base architecture and technology stack that was selected in 2016 was no longer able to keep up with with our clients' growing needs. Because of this, in early 2023 we made the difficult (but necessary) decision to completely restructure and redesign our software with the help of a much larger team and under the leadership of an individual who has already built not 1 but 2 full stack avionics products in the past.
Our primary goal with NFS V2.0 was to accurately simulate the complex intercommunication of the Perspective+ system architecture. In our airplanes, each LRU plays a very specific role and communicates with the system as a whole in a specific way. By breaking each line replaceable unit (LRU) into a discrete virtual computer that communicates within the network using the same pathways as the real aircraft, we are able to very accurately replicate LRU system failure modes that occur in the sim the same way they would occur in the airplane. No need to "simulate" a failure, they occur intrinsically.
We have all seen this block diagram during our training and most of us probably went a bit cross-eyed and turned the page. This diagram, however is the heart of our Perspective+ avionics anatomy and dictates how everything behaves as a whole.
The first thing users will notice when launching NFS V2.0 software is the main LRU flight control management page. Look familiar?? Using this page, each LRU is modeled as its own virtual unit that can be powered on, off or failed with ease from the instructor station. These LRUs communicate via internal LAN network, much the same way as the ARNC 429 protocol communication in the airplane.
We cannot express how thankful we are for our customer base for being patient as we work through this major software overhaul. We will be using this page as a means of communication to keep current and future customers updated and excited about all the great work we are doing for our wonderful Cirrus community!
UPDATE 6/30/23- virtual LRU networking libraries built and communicating
The first step for our new software architecture was to build each LRU as its own virtual component and then network them all together over LAN. We now have all LRUs communicating efficiently with little CPU burden.
UPDATE 9/30/23 - graphically modeled hardware completed
Although the software will be controlled by physical hardware, all hardware components have been graphically modeled in NFS 2.0 to create a more robust and complete product offering. This will also allow customers to take advantage of hardware components that they may not physically have, such as the circuit breaker panel. The physical hardware communicates with its graphical counterpart using industry standard CAN communication protocols, the same method used in industrial equipment and automobiles.
UPDATE 11/15/23 - COM, NAV, Surveillance
We have completed our CNS functionality so that a basic IFR flight can be accomplished by flying land based navigational aids on green needles (VOR, LOC, ILS). Both the CDI and VDI indicators have been optimized to improve refresh rate to provide fluid needle movements. We have also reworked the back end data structure to significantly improve refresh rate of the PFD attitude information so that there is no visual "ticking" between refreshes.
UPDATE 12/30/23 - FMS flight plan entry
changing our code base did not only include the underlying LRU architecture. We also changed the code structure to allow a more accurate way of modifying the FMS flight plan. We have now completed the communication between the front end LRU and backend GIA flight data computers so that flight plan entries and modifications are indexed and sequenced properly. For all procedures and database items, we are no longer using the free FAA data and have implemented the Jeppesen database for accurate and worldwide coverage.
We have now also implemented the dashed Quick Select box so that the FMS can be navigated using the GCU range joystick.
UPDATE: 1/15/24 - Topography mapping
One of the biggest deficiencies of our NFS V1.0 software was the lack of beautiful color map that Garmin systems are so well known for. Not only have we completed our standard topography, but we also have completed our relative topography. Having control of our own high resolution topo map that does not rely on pulling data from XPlane cannot be understated and marks a major milestone for the project!
3/25/24 - Jeppesen data
We have completed our ARNC424 software parser so that we are now able to implement the full Jeppesen database including charts into our MFD. For customers who wish to have a subscription for in cockpit charts, we will also have access to the worldwide Jepp charts library. This database gives us all of the data including:
Airports
Airways (high and low)
Airspaces
MOAs
Waypoints
Procedures
Charts
etc.
Being able to license the Jeppesen database to our customers without needing to rely on a well known 3rd party data provider (who is not authorized to sell data to commercial-use customers) was a critical step. In fact, NFS is the first simulation manufacturer to be able to directly license and distribute the Jeppesen database to it customers!
4/5/24 - NEXRAD Radar overlay
One component of simulator flying that is very difficult to replicate is that of weather flying. In the cockpit, we have many tools available to us through our XM weather services to help avoid and mitigate weather related hazards. Our software is now able to generate NEXRAD radar data based on the sim environment and paint it on the MFD to show precipitation cells the same as you would see in the cockpit!
4/16/24 - GTC580 UI Screens
During the CPPP event in Knoxville, TN, we had a chance to evaluate the avionics hot bench for the G7 aircraft. These UI screens are the result of being able to interact with the actual hardware. Not only are the screens created, the underlying software transitions and features are being connected to our existing LRU structure.
6/20/24 - FMS leg types, turn anticipation and GPS steering
We continue to make great progress and have now added advanced features of the Garmin FMS including turn anticipation, GPS steering legs, heading legs, etc. We hope to see you all at Oshkosh next month!
7/29/24 - LRU specific failure modeling
As we have been saying all along, the primary advantage of completely redoing our software into an LRU architecture is to allow authentic reproduction of complex systems failure scenarios to a degree not previously possible below level D sims. Let's look at the example below: In G6 and G7 aircraft, each ADAHRS module is comprised of an AHARS unit and an ADC (air data computer) unit. In the screenshot below, you can see that we have added some additional values to the GSU75-1 and GSU75-2 ADAHRS modules to allow for more specific failure modeling. When in DH mode, both the ADC and AHARS units are functioning. Move the slider to another position and the user can now independently fail either the ADC or the AHARS of either ADAHRS module!
This LRU control will be accessible by an instructor via the instructor operating station and will also be tied into the circuit breaker panel (both graphical and hardware). In the screenshot below you can see the PFD warnings that indicate you are receiving single source data from a complete ADAHRS2 failure.
On systems equipped with an NFS circuit breaker panel, "pulling" one of the breakers on the graphical panel will actually cause the real hardware breaker to pop out! Talk about a dream come true for your flight instructor...
Now this would be a really bad day! Having a complete loss of ADAHRS 1&2 requiring you fly on the 2.4" MD302 backup gauges... Yikes! Best to train for it when you have a pause button!
8/13/24 - MFD Map enhancements
We continue to add features of the Perspective+ system to our software. Some of these features include:
Track vector line with adjustable distance (30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes.)
Selected altitude prediction ("Blue banana").
MFD extended heading bug in track up mode.
Nearest airport select with automatic zoom
8/27/24 - GTC580 pages
At the heart of the G7 is the Garmin Perspective Touch+ system. This is based on the G3000 avionics with dual GTC 580 touchscreen controllers. Within our growing avionics development team, we have dedicated developers working solely on G7 to meet the growing demand!
10/8/24 - DTO turn anticipation, Fly over waypoints
When a Direct to course is activated, the Garmin system gracefully calculates for the turn that is required to smoothly intercept the course based on current aircraft heading and speed. This logic has now been implemented in our FMS code. Additionally, waypoints in the flight plan can now be changed from their default flyby logic and forced to be fly over waypoints which adds a small GPS steering leg to return the aircraft back to the active course leg.
11/15/24 - NFS V2 software begins private beta release!
As of today, 11/15/24, We have begun to release V2 software to select users as a private beta. This marks a major milestone for the project as we are now receiving feedback from external users!
11/30/24 - G7 GTC580s communicating with GIA64W LRU
If you look at the Garmin block diagram between G6 and G7 you will notice that most all of the LRU components are shared between models. Because we have built the new V2 software with a LRU architecture, we have been able to build on our current progress and make significant progress with our G7 solution. Our G7 GTC controllers are now able to communicate flight plan data to the backend GIA 64W LRU.
Man I can’t wait!!!
Are all these updates automatically updated in our sims or do we have to request them? Great work and looking forward to flying the Xplane version over the MS version again soon!