IRS in ATT

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 37
From: Australia
This will give attitude and hdg info only.
You say "hdg info", but heading info is limited to the accuracy of pilot input.
What else does the IRS output (with the assistance of other systems)? Groundspeed (non-GPS derived), wind, drift, Para Visual Display, track... Map displays will be affected (if Track Up oriented), affecting TCAS displays, EGPWS, etc. The Collins Multiscan Radar appears to need full IRU alignment from the tests I've done on the ground.
Of course, results may vary depending on aircraft. Also, displayed data may vary depending on how many IRU's are in ATT mode. e.g. I recall that pilot heading entry wasn't required for, say, a 747-400's Captain's displays, if the L IRU was in ATT mode, because the heading data was automatically sourced from another IRU.
Last edited by NSEU; 27th April 2016 at 11:03.
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 1
From: wherever
Typical IRU output these days might include:
Time to Nav
Time In Nav
Pos Latitude
Pos Longitude
Ground Speed
Track Angle True
True Heading
Wind Speed
Wind Direction True
Track Angle Magnetic
Magnetic Heading
Drift Angle
Flight Path Angle
Flight Path Accel
Pitch Angle
Roll Angle
Body Pitch Rate
Body Roll Rate
Body Yaw Rate
Body Long Accel
Body Lat Accel
Body Norm Accel
Platform Heading
Track Angle Rate
Pitch Att Rate
Roll Att Rate
IRU Status
Inertial Altitude
Along Track Accel
Cross Track Accel
Vertical Accel
Inertial Vertical Spd
N-S Velocity
E-W Velocity
Unbiased Normal Accel
Along Heading Accel
Cross Heading Accel
off the top of my head ;-)
Time to Nav
Time In Nav
Pos Latitude
Pos Longitude
Ground Speed
Track Angle True
True Heading
Wind Speed
Wind Direction True
Track Angle Magnetic
Magnetic Heading
Drift Angle
Flight Path Angle
Flight Path Accel
Pitch Angle
Roll Angle
Body Pitch Rate
Body Roll Rate
Body Yaw Rate
Body Long Accel
Body Lat Accel
Body Norm Accel
Platform Heading
Track Angle Rate
Pitch Att Rate
Roll Att Rate
IRU Status
Inertial Altitude
Along Track Accel
Cross Track Accel
Vertical Accel
Inertial Vertical Spd
N-S Velocity
E-W Velocity
Unbiased Normal Accel
Along Heading Accel
Cross Heading Accel
off the top of my head ;-)

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 37
From: Australia
Just looking at the top of my head and these words are written :P ....
In Attitude Mode, the IRS will provide:
• Attitude
• Attitude rates
• Heading
• Acceleration
• Vertical velocity
The last one seems to indicate that V/S will be available.
I'm wondering how Autobrakes/Antiskid will be affected (in the various IRU modes). On many aircraft types, certain functions of Antiskid require groundspeed, but I haven't been able to find out how much the Antiskid/Autobrake system will be affected.
In Attitude Mode, the IRS will provide:
• Attitude
• Attitude rates
• Heading
• Acceleration
• Vertical velocity
The last one seems to indicate that V/S will be available.
I'm wondering how Autobrakes/Antiskid will be affected (in the various IRU modes). On many aircraft types, certain functions of Antiskid require groundspeed, but I haven't been able to find out how much the Antiskid/Autobrake system will be affected.
Gender Faculty Specialist
Joined: Mar 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 434
From: In your head.
Typical IRU output these days might include:
Time to Nav
Time In Nav
Pos Latitude
Pos Longitude
Ground Speed
Track Angle True
True Heading
Wind Speed
Wind Direction True
Track Angle Magnetic
Magnetic Heading
Drift Angle
Flight Path Angle
Flight Path Accel
Pitch Angle
Roll Angle
Body Pitch Rate
Body Roll Rate
Body Yaw Rate
Body Long Accel
Body Lat Accel
Body Norm Accel
Platform Heading
Track Angle Rate
Pitch Att Rate
Roll Att Rate
IRU Status
Inertial Altitude
Along Track Accel
Cross Track Accel
Vertical Accel
Inertial Vertical Spd
N-S Velocity
E-W Velocity
Unbiased Normal Accel
Along Heading Accel
Cross Heading Accel
off the top of my head ;-)
Time to Nav
Time In Nav
Pos Latitude
Pos Longitude
Ground Speed
Track Angle True
True Heading
Wind Speed
Wind Direction True
Track Angle Magnetic
Magnetic Heading
Drift Angle
Flight Path Angle
Flight Path Accel
Pitch Angle
Roll Angle
Body Pitch Rate
Body Roll Rate
Body Yaw Rate
Body Long Accel
Body Lat Accel
Body Norm Accel
Platform Heading
Track Angle Rate
Pitch Att Rate
Roll Att Rate
IRU Status
Inertial Altitude
Along Track Accel
Cross Track Accel
Vertical Accel
Inertial Vertical Spd
N-S Velocity
E-W Velocity
Unbiased Normal Accel
Along Heading Accel
Cross Heading Accel
off the top of my head ;-)

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 3
From: McHales Island
Pin Head,
Searched around and found some old B744 notes and as NSEU said, re- ATT mode the IRS provides....
. Attitude
. Attitude rates
. Heading
. Acceleration
. Vertical velocity
In ATT mode the system is degraded and the IRU's do not provide...
. Position
. Ground speed
. Wind data
Hope this helps
McHale.
Searched around and found some old B744 notes and as NSEU said, re- ATT mode the IRS provides....
. Attitude
. Attitude rates
. Heading
. Acceleration
. Vertical velocity
In ATT mode the system is degraded and the IRU's do not provide...
. Position
. Ground speed
. Wind data
Hope this helps
McHale.

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 3
From: McHales Island
NSEU,
Regarding Autobrakes/Antiskid. On the B744, the IRS and main wheel speed transducers (located in the main wheel axles) send speed signals to the BSCU (Brake system control unit) for antiskid/autobrake control.
The wheel speed signal is the PRIMARY signal and the IRS signal is the secondary. For hydroplane and autobraking protection there is, to some degree, cross referencing of speed signals from both the wheel transducers and the IRS by the BSCU.
McHale.
Regarding Autobrakes/Antiskid. On the B744, the IRS and main wheel speed transducers (located in the main wheel axles) send speed signals to the BSCU (Brake system control unit) for antiskid/autobrake control.
The wheel speed signal is the PRIMARY signal and the IRS signal is the secondary. For hydroplane and autobraking protection there is, to some degree, cross referencing of speed signals from both the wheel transducers and the IRS by the BSCU.
McHale.

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 37
From: Australia
The wheel speed signal is the PRIMARY signal and the IRS signal is the secondary. For hydroplane and autobraking protection there is, to some degree, cross referencing of speed signals from both the wheel transducers and the IRS by the BSCU.
My books say
Hydroplane / Touchdown Protection:
Hydroplane / Touchdown protection is provided directly to each of
the aft wheels by comparing wheel speed to airplane ground speed
from the Intertial Reference System (IRS).
• Touchdown protection ensures the rear brakes do not have any
hydraulic pressure applied upon touchdown.
• Hydroplane protection occurs during ground roll to ensure
hydraulic pressure is released at the rear brakes.Protection of the
forward wheels is thus by the locked wheel function.
Hydroplane / Touchdown protection is provided directly to each of
the aft wheels by comparing wheel speed to airplane ground speed
from the Intertial Reference System (IRS).
• Touchdown protection ensures the rear brakes do not have any
hydraulic pressure applied upon touchdown.
• Hydroplane protection occurs during ground roll to ensure
hydraulic pressure is released at the rear brakes.Protection of the
forward wheels is thus by the locked wheel function.
It may be completely unlike body gear steering system where IRU groundspeed is factored into the logic (yet I know that it will work with with IRUs switched off).
Any comments from PinHead? I'm not even sure why he asked the question

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 3
From: McHales Island
NSEU,
I see and understand your point, but my notes make reference to the wheel speed transducers as being the primary control input to the BSCU.
Interestingly I found a single sentence explanation for IRS input as follows.... "selected" IRS signals provide ground speed signals for hydroplane/touchdown protection (read into that what you may.)
Nowhere in my notes can I find any explanation if you lose IRS ground speed input. So I can only assume (and we all know where that can lead to) that the BSCU works its magic and only uses wheel speed input, considering that the wheel transducers are signalling the BSCU that they are on the ground and physically spinning up to speed where as the IRU's have zero input on wheel speed.
I also found that wheel speed only, enables antiskid at >8kts and disables at <8kts. Also agree on the body gear steer scenario.
McHale.
PS... We've gone a bit off topic, but still learning.
I see and understand your point, but my notes make reference to the wheel speed transducers as being the primary control input to the BSCU.
Interestingly I found a single sentence explanation for IRS input as follows.... "selected" IRS signals provide ground speed signals for hydroplane/touchdown protection (read into that what you may.)
Nowhere in my notes can I find any explanation if you lose IRS ground speed input. So I can only assume (and we all know where that can lead to) that the BSCU works its magic and only uses wheel speed input, considering that the wheel transducers are signalling the BSCU that they are on the ground and physically spinning up to speed where as the IRU's have zero input on wheel speed.
I also found that wheel speed only, enables antiskid at >8kts and disables at <8kts. Also agree on the body gear steer scenario.
McHale.

PS... We've gone a bit off topic, but still learning.

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 37
From: Australia
Originally Posted by McHale
So I can only assume (and we all know where that can lead to)
Regarding Antiskid... With no IRU input, if all the wheels on a particular bogey were hyroplaning (i.e. wheel speed zero), would the aircraft see this as the aircraft stopped and keep the brakes applied because the wheelspeed is less than 8kts)?
Regarding Autobrakes, so far I've only looked at the logic for these from one angle: Antiskid problems causing Autobrake problems (My logic diagrams say that if there are any Normal antiskid problems, the Autobrake switch won't arm). Looking at Autobrakes alone....
The IRUs aren't mentioned in the A/B switch (1~MAX) arming logic on the 747-400 (EDIT: Disregard... See correction below), but they are mentioned in the disarming logic. Indeed, during ground tests, the A/B switch won't stay in the latched position with the IRU's off (NB: park brake confirmed off, hydraulics on). I haven't tried this in ATT mode though. One of the inputs to the disable logic is marked "Captain's selected IRS fail". There is no definition of "fail" shown however.
PS... We've gone a bit off topic, but still learning.
Last edited by NSEU; 1st May 2016 at 03:52.

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 3
From: McHales Island
NSEU,
Regarding Antiskid..... purely hypothetical but I will assume (there I go again) we're talking B744. I think the BSCU will ignore the signals from that particular bogey and pay attention to the other 12 wheel speed transducer signals that say, hey, we are moving at a great rate of knots here, and will continue with normal antiskid ops and the hydroplaning bogey will eventually start to spin up and join the antiskid party.
Regarding Autobrakes.... Agreed.
Autobrakes alone.... "The IRUs aren't mentioned in the A/B switch (1~MAX) arming logic on the 747-400."-- Look again. Agree with ground test scenario.
With regards to Att mode selected, I note that the IRS supplies ground speed, deceleration and pitch angle signals and arming logic requires valid Capts select IRS (ground speed and accel). With the loss of ground speed due ATT selected I wonder if your ground test would pass simply by the test looking at deceleration, pitch angle, air/ground mode, thrust and speed brake lever positions etc?
McHale.
Regarding Antiskid..... purely hypothetical but I will assume (there I go again) we're talking B744. I think the BSCU will ignore the signals from that particular bogey and pay attention to the other 12 wheel speed transducer signals that say, hey, we are moving at a great rate of knots here, and will continue with normal antiskid ops and the hydroplaning bogey will eventually start to spin up and join the antiskid party.
Regarding Autobrakes.... Agreed.
Autobrakes alone.... "The IRUs aren't mentioned in the A/B switch (1~MAX) arming logic on the 747-400."-- Look again. Agree with ground test scenario.
With regards to Att mode selected, I note that the IRS supplies ground speed, deceleration and pitch angle signals and arming logic requires valid Capts select IRS (ground speed and accel). With the loss of ground speed due ATT selected I wonder if your ground test would pass simply by the test looking at deceleration, pitch angle, air/ground mode, thrust and speed brake lever positions etc?
McHale.

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 37
From: Australia
Autobrakes alone.... "The IRUs aren't mentioned in the A/B switch (1~MAX) arming logic on the 747-400."-- Look again.
I think we need someone with some free sim time to chime in here. i.e. prior to arming autobrakes, put the IRU's to ATT.... look for antiskid messages, then ARM the A/B's.




