Avionics News March 2022 - 24

HONEYWELL'S ANTHEM
Continued from page 23
Anthem is highly flexible
As Motivala stressed, unlike prior-generation avionics where
changes were incremental, Anthem is not a new-generation
version of EPIC.
" To go where we wanted to go with Anthem, we could not
use incremental innovation steps, " he said. " We had to think
totally outside of the box for this one. It's like comparing the old
brick phone with a new smartphone. They're both phones, but
nothing alike. "
Unlike prior-generation avionics solutions like EPIC, as
capable as it was and still is, it was purpose-built for large-cabin
business jets. As Motivala said, the Anthem solution can, and
will, be scalable for all aircraft types.
To provide that kind of flexibility, Anthem's engineers had
to solve two major problems facing the aviation industry today:
varying levels of aircraft autonomy and increased operational
integration.
First, it enables ways for increasingly complex aircraft to
function with greater degrees of autonomy, relieving stress on
pilots while promoting safety and enhanced efficiencies through
an improved interface.
" When we talk about autonomy in the nearer term, we're
talking about having systems that enable reduced crew
operations, or even single-pilot capabilities, " Motivala said.
" Those are enhanced with capabilities like emergency autolanding,
engine-out glide, and others. All those capabilities
will be available. They're more about enhancing safety than
enabling full automation for the entire flight. "
According to the company's official Anthem announcement,
" Honeywell Anthem supports growing levels of aircraft
autonomy, leading to complete autonomous capabilities in
the future as regulations allow. Enabling increasing levels of
autonomy - whether it's automating manual tasks for singlepilot
operation or automating more complex processes to
reduce workload across all pilots, maintainers and other service
providers in a large fleet - depends heavily on improving
connectivity across aircraft systems. "
Second, Anthem has to become the enabler, so disjointed
systems that currently work independently to support an
aircraft's operation can work together seamlessly to deliver
more critical information and situational awareness to the pilot.
For example, historically, mechanics and pilots had to be on
board aircraft to transfer critical data like maintenance status
and flight plans. Anthem allows for near real-time transfer of
this data without needing to be physically near the aircraft.
Additionally, individual support systems (fuel,
maintenance, catering, etc.) have also been disjointed,
forcing pilots to interface with multiple third-party apps,
24 avionics news * march 2022
websites, and businesses both preflight and post-flight.
The pilot used to be required to integrate all this critical
incoming information and then provide notifications to
numerous support personnel prior to, during and after
completing a flight. By seamlessly integrating all of these
activities into easy-to-use applications, Anthem's alwayson
cloud connection eliminates the need for that additional
busy work.
To further simplify a plethora of functions and features,
Anthem also integrates with Honeywell's popular Forge
application, which is a software platform that includes in-air and
on-ground solutions for flight operations, flight efficiency, and
connected maintenance in a single user interface.
Like so many of Anthem's other features, the integration of
multiple operational requirements enables operators to make
proactive decisions about in-flight routing that save fuel and
help avoid flight interruptions because of maintenance.
Clear benefits to flying in the cloud
While having so much valuable information and an array of
workload-reducing capabilities available via the cloud is great, a
core goal of Anthem's development was its ease of use.
" Our secure cockpit browser works like entertainment
systems in modern cars, " Motivala said. " You can easily link
your personal device to Anthem and share applications like
ForeFlight or anything the OEM wants to host with the system.
Another of Anthem's capabilities that is capable only with the
cloud is our Mission Manager, which can prompt you to the
next action you need to take.
" With its always-on connection, pilots can load flight plans
remotely, which saves a lot of time at the aircraft. They can also
integrate communications with ground and service personnel
at their destination. You can have fuel, catering, or whatever
services you require standing by when you arrive. When pilots
are connected via Anthem, they are connected to everything
they need. "
He also explained that another added value for fleet operators
is Anthem's ability to improve the overall efficiency and
workflow of all the various entities involved with a mission.
" You can now handle activities in parallel instead of
singularly like you do today, " Motivala said. " It's just much
more efficient. In addition, logbook entries can be automated,
further saving crews valuable time. "
At the heart of Anthem's broad-reaching automation
capabilities is what Honeywell Aerospace calls its Integrated
Network Server Unit. As Motivala explained it, the INSU
connects and communicates through multiple channels,
enabling device-to-Anthem connectivity via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
air-to-ground, 4G LTE, and satellite.
While we're on the subject of connectivity, Anthem has
been designed to be pipe agnostic, so it will operate within
Avionics News March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News March 2022
