Navy P-3 Orion AC and Pressurization Trainer Project Title: Naval P-3 Orion Air Conditioning and                          Pressurization Trainer Project Customer: United States Navy

US Navy P-3 Orion

P-3 Orion Hydraulics Trainer Undergoing Testing at ACME

Project Overview: The US Navy P-3 Orion Air Conditioning and Pressurization Trainer project revitalized an old trainer.  The trainer was originally designed around relay logic, timing cams, and a back-lit wood and plastic transparency.  In addition, the Instructor Operator System (IOS) interface to the trainer utilized a series of switches and knobs for instructor input.  The functionality of the archaic trainer was lost due to the low reliability components and unavailable replacements. 

ACME’s three-fold upgrade transformed the trainer with modern technology:

• A high definition back projected wide screen TV  replaced the back lit wood transparency
• A software application eliminated the old relay logic and timing cams
• Software interfaced to the user though a touch screen interface eliminated the bank of switches and knobs

RESULTS:  ACME delivered the P-3 AC and Pressurization trainer on time and on budget.  All flight control and gauge interfaces are now handled though a VMIC I/O chassis and the software runs on a single, standard off-the-shelf PC.  The updated trainer is easier to run, more reliable, much less costly to maintain, and can accommodate future upgrades with nothing more than software changes.

ACME Services Used: Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Technical Documentation.

Project Details:  ACME produced a software model that simulates the various pressures, temperatures, and valve positions based on instructor and student inputs.  The modification transformed the student interface with aircraft panel switches and gauges carefully manufactured to simulate actual aircraft controls.  The team upgraded the instructor Operator Station (IOS) to a rack mounted, flat touch screen monitor along with a full screen, interactive, instructor operator application.  The Instructor’s new application runs all functionality provided by the old trainer IOS including all malfunctions and aircraft conditions and states.   Additionally, ACME incorporated debugging and maintenance pages into the IOS that make it easier to isolate and remove problems that may occur with the remainder of the system.  The P3 Air Conditioning and Pressurization “Black Box” was also successfully incorporated into the new trainer per training requirements.  In addition, the trainer interfaces to two separate trainer units that contain a sizeable portion of the actual aircraft mounted components including air ducting, valves, lights, vent doors, and a blower fan.  The modification also ensured all relays required to power the high demand components are modern and compact, making troubleshooting easier and cheaper.  All source code, hardware, software and manuals were delivered on schedule and within budget.

Delivery Date: November, 2004

Customer Reaction: The Navy ordered a second ACME P-3 Air Conditioning and Pressurization Trainer based upon the upgrade’s success.

Navy P-3 Orion Integration at ACME

P-3 Orion Re-Wiring of Electronics Chassis