The software has been developed in the Visual Studio.NET (TM) Environment. It is based on a simple Client/Server model that allows for simple monitoring and interaction with the autonomous code running onboard the aircraft. The aircraft runs Windows XP Embedded (TM), and loads the Server Software, dubbed Prometheus, as a windows service. The aircraft computer is a Technoland Crusoe Computer operating at 800mhz. By using Windows XP Embedded (TM), the extraneous processes and features are not loaded, and we are able to get away with a very small memory footprint, but still leverage the power of Windows XP (TM). For more information on the server software, click here.

All of the software is written in C#, an incredibly powerful language that takes the best features of C++ and Java and puts them into one environment. Talking to all of our devices has been a snap with the use of the Sax.Net Connected Framework, which made all of the serial communications as easy as drop and go. Clients are not limited to full laptop computers, using the Compact Framework and Microsoft Windows Pocket PC (TM) we have also developed clients for Pocket PCs that are capable of communicating with the server and controlling all actuators and reading back diagnostic data for pre-flight checks as well as remote monitoring.

The software is extensively tested using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. In order to interface the software with MS Flight Simulator we used Peter Dowson's FSUIPC communication library. This library gives me access to all flight variables, allowing the software to copy the pertinent variables into the local memory stack, processing the data, and copying the calculated actuator values back into flight simulator. Microsoft's simulator is the most mature commercially available simulator, and has proven invaluable in the development of the flight control algorithms.