S-PLANE’s Automation Solutions are supported by sophisticated Simulation Solutions, including Software- and Hardware-In-the-Loop Simulation (SILS & HILS). SILS used for development and is also integral to S-PLANE’s Ground Control Stations (GCS). In the GCS, SILS is used for training purposes and to allow operators to optimise and practice real missions before they are flown. HILS is an essential modern tool for integration and testing of aircraft and their sub-systems. At S-PLANE, HILS supports automated execution of acceptance tests as part of an efficient system engineering tool chain.
Both SILS and HILS run high-fidelity system-wide simulations employing precise aircraft, atmospheric, magnetic, geospacial, gravitational, sensor, actuator and other models to deliver realistic simulated behaviour. For automated aircraft (OPVs and UAVs), single or multiple instances of the aircraft’s flight automation software are run directly within the simulation to interact comprehensively with GCS systems and operators. Video streams are rendered and streamed in order to generate simulated payload, flight and situational views.
The HILS Integrated Test Station (ITS) connects automated aircraft to a simulator system in order to put them through their paces without leaving the ground. The ITS is a rugged, transportable 19-inch rack-based unit allowing system integrators to perform detailed HILS during initial, production and post-maintenance integration phases. It is used to power critical aircraft sub-systems, integrates those sub-systems into a simulation environment and provides break-out connections to essential system ports to verify that those critical sub-systems are functioning properly (per specified acceptance test procedures).
