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In-flight upset - 154 km west of Learmonth, WA, 7 October 2008,

In-flight upset - 154 km west of Learmonth, WA, 7 October 2008,

In-flight upset - 154 km west of Learmonth, WA, 7 October 2008,

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estimated high-energy neutron fluxes present at the time and location <strong>of</strong> the threeoccurrences were 700 (12 September 2006), 1,000 (7 <strong>October</strong> <strong>2008</strong>) and 1,700 (27December <strong>2008</strong>) neutrons per cm 2 per hour. 159The most useful method for ascertaining whether a type <strong>of</strong> equipment behaviour isrelated to SEE is to use correlations <strong>of</strong> the rate <strong>of</strong> events compared with thepredicted neutron flux, as well as taking into account other hypotheses andinformation about the system <strong>of</strong> interest. This approach was <strong>of</strong> limited value in thiscase due to the small number <strong>of</strong> occurrences involved.Component testingSimilar types <strong>of</strong> RAM chips to those used in the LTN-101 ADIRU were tested fortheir susceptibility to SEU in 1993 by specialists contracted by the ADIRUmanufacturer. Both types <strong>of</strong> RAM were found to be susceptible to SEU. For theCPU RAM the equivalent 160 estimated mean time between SEU operated in a polarregion at 45,000 feet was about 75 days. For the wait-state RAM, the mean timewas 175 days. The test report recommended that the manufacturer consider variousmeans <strong>of</strong> improving resilience to SEE, including the substitution <strong>of</strong> more resilientRAM and the use <strong>of</strong> EDAC.Three variants <strong>of</strong> a chip 161 similar to the CPU RAM type and two variants <strong>of</strong> thewait-state chip type 162 were tested for proton 163 and heavy-ion 164 SEU susceptibilityin 1994. All chips tested were reported to be ‘very susceptible to both heavy ionsand protons’ though they exhibited different levels <strong>of</strong> susceptibility.The wait-state RAM type was tested in 1999 for susceptibility to heavy-ionbombardment, and was compared with two other types <strong>of</strong> RAM. Of the three types<strong>of</strong> RAM tested, that used in the LTN-101 was the most resilient to heavy-ion SEU.There were no SEE tests <strong>of</strong> the CPU chip or ASIC chip known to the investigation.During the investigation, the ATSB received expert advice that the susceptibility <strong>of</strong>a specific component to SEE could vary significantly between components with thesame part number from the same batch (up to a factor <strong>of</strong> 2 or 3), and even more forcomponents from different batches (up to a factor <strong>of</strong> 10). The expert advised theATSB that the component-level test results were typical <strong>of</strong> devices <strong>of</strong> the period.159160161162These figures were calculated by establishing the level <strong>of</strong> solar modulation <strong>of</strong> galactic cosmic raysfrom ground-level monitors for the time <strong>of</strong> the occurrences and applying the QinetiQ AtmosphericRadiation Model (QARM) to calculate the in-<strong>flight</strong> levels. See http://qarm.space.qinetiq.com.The mean time between SEU has been adjusted here to account for the different amount <strong>of</strong> RAMin the study versus the amount <strong>of</strong> RAM in the LTN-101 ADIRU program memory.The chips tested were Micron Tech MT5C2568, MT5C2568-35 and MT5C2568-70, withsomewhat similar characteristics to the Austin chips that were used in the LTN-101.The chips tested were Mosaic MSM8128K and MSM8128KL, with very similar characteristics tothe Mosaic chips that were used in the LTN-101.163 The effects <strong>of</strong> proton and neutron SEE are comparable, so SEE testing using one is generallyrepresentative <strong>of</strong> the other.164A heavy ion is an ionic (charged) particle heavier than a helium nucleus; that is, more than abouttwice as heavy as a neutron. High-energy heavy ions are present in the atmosphere and can causeSEE, but do not penetrate the atmosphere or aircraft skin as deeply as high-energy neutrons. Atnormal aircraft altitudes, neutrons are the predominant form <strong>of</strong> high-energy particle.- 146 -

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