ARINC-429 Data Record and Playback System
As part of a project with a major aerospace supplier. We developed an advanced ARINC-429 Record and Playback solution . This system allows users to capture avionics communication flows from various onboard systems and replay them in a highly accurate, time-synchronized manner that faithfully reproduces the native timing of the ARINC-429 protocol.
ARINC-429 is based on cyclical message transmission, with fixed repetition intervals. Commonly every 2 ms, 5 ms, or 10 ms, depending on the label. For realistic simulation, each message must be replayed at precisely the same rate as originally recorded. Maintaining this timing integrity is essential for accurate validation and diagnostics in avionics environments.
Challenge
The solution is built on UEI (United Electronic Industries) hardware for both acquisition and signal generation. Control and orchestration of the entire system were implemented using NI LabVIEW.
The graphical interface, developed in LabVIEW, gives users intuitive control over playback operations. Play, Pause, Stop, Rewind, and Fast Forward. Flight profiles can be visualized in real-time, typically as altitude-versus-time plots, and the system provides a clear view of simulation progress. Test scenarios and flight data sets are easily loaded through standardized configuration files such as CSV or Excel, simplifying setup and reuse. Particularly for the pause feature, the cyclical nature of ARINC 429 messages is repeated while the playback is pause so that it mimics the ARINC 429 bus perfectly.
Below are some screenshots of the operator interface.
An integrated Fault Injection Module (FIM) enables simulation of data corruption or failure conditions by dynamically overriding up to 30 labels per bus on the simulated ARINC 429 channels. This capability is particularly useful for robustness testing and validating system behavior in degraded modes.
Furthermore, the system supports parallel transmission of ARINC 429 signals to multiple target systems. Such as onboard connectivity or entertainment servers. Via dedicated connectors integrated into the UEI hardware interface.
Result
This ARINC-429 record and playback solution, fully integrated with a LabVIEW-driven control layer, provides aerospace development and validation teams with a powerful and reliable testing platform. It ensures high-fidelity simulation, reduces test campaign timelines, and guarantees repeatable, time-accurate results for critical applications.
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By choosing Neosoft for your custom software consulting and development needs, you benefit from recognized expertise, a personalized approach, and cutting-edge technologies to optimize your processes and ensure the quality of your products.
To discuss your specific needs, feel free to contact us.