How many individual computers in A320?
 

Anyone know exactly how many? I know it's roughly 200. Just curious.

Primary and secondary flight controls total 7 computers, ELAC 1/2, SEC 1/2/3, FAC 1/2.

I think the question was more general. PilotJames, find yourself a copy of the FCOM, start counting and let us know!

Think I was told 220 when I did the course but goodness knows if that is correct but even the bog flush uses a computer so probably not far off. Someone did describe it as a collection of computers held together by an airframe.

Then calculate how many times more computing power it has compared to the first moon lander, Eagle.

Don't forget the pilot's watches.

I like to think of it as one ginormous flying computer.

First, define 'computer'.

If you get down to the micro-controller level, each passenger seat probably has one to handle the call button, reading light, etc. Add in the passenger entertainment units (usually running something like Linux) and the total probably exceeds several hundred easily.

Practically every box/card in the EE bay has its own 'computer' to handle built-in test functions and report back on data buses.

I take your point. Our passengers arn't lucky enough to have screens on the seat in front.
I'm referring to the boxes in the avionics compartment.
Elac, sec, probe heat computer, gpws etc
Excluding the IFE.

Sufficient.

Not an A320 engineer, but the matter would still come back to the definition of a computer.

Do you include transceivers (VHF, HF, Satcom, Radio Altimeter, Radar... ), receivers (VOR, ILS, Marker, GPS...), transponders (ATC), tuners (HF), interrogators (DME), recorders (including DFDR and cockpit voice), ACARS, Cabin Interphone/Flight Interphone/PA, Selcal, TCAS, cockpit display data processors..... Even nav and comms boxes have fault processors.

Then look at Post #2....here are additional input computers.

http://i1.wp.com/www.gerryairways.co.../320-FBW-2.jpg

Each engine has two FADECs, and I would not discount their contribution to the aircraft's operation.

Add +2, neuron-based. :)

When I did my B744 course I seem to remember we were told 121 in the E&E bay, ranging from a chip the size of a digital camera memory card, (about 1.5inches square, in those days) to something much bigger, possibly the nav data base?

I'm working off windows 95 so wouldn't count my neurons, I spend the majority of the time on the loading screen ;)

??? The nav database is not a computer. It's just solid state memory in each Flight Management Computer.

If you're including individual computer cards, I'm sure there are a lot more than 121. There are about 25 fire detection cards alone (on the 744)

Seems like they are counting chips/sensors, not computer systems

Yup, just repeating what an E & I engineer mentioned once, in passing, he was only referring to the E & E bay.

Being an ex-Avionics man myself (744 and others), I started to count the number of rack-mounted electronic boxes in the 744 E&E bay. I couldn't find anywhere near 121 of these. When I started counting boxes and cards, the number easily exceeded 121. Again it comes back to definitions, I guess.