Advanced Control Equipment (ACE2)
96A0357 Rev. F
Introduction
© ADB Airfield Solutions All Rights Reserved
12
2.2.7 Theory of Operation
The Advanced Control Equipment (ACE2™) represents the heart of ADB Airfield Solutions’
airfield lighting distributed control system. Distributed control technology has many
advantages over traditional central control, including but not limited to: cost effectiveness,
system expandability, ease of maintenance, ease of installation, interchangeable parts, and
ease of troubleshooting. In a distributed control scenario, each ACE2 unit is locally installed
at or near a controllable item, CCR, Generator, ATS, etc. Each ACE2 talks with the airfield
lighting control network and executes remote lighting commands. Multiple ACE2 units can be
daisy-chained together, making system expansion very easy (Figure 6).
Figure 6:
Flow Diagram of Airfield Lighting Electrical Vault
The ACE2 is a universal device that controls any type of CCR and/or controlled element,
regardless of manufacturer. The printed circuit boards are mounted inside a small, rugged
environmental enclosure that is mounted on top of the CCR, wall-mounted, or directly
attached to the door of a ADB Airfield Solutions L-828 CCR. The ACE2 consists of
microprocessor-based module(s) that includes all of the communication, control commands,
input/output interface, and failsafe functionality for the controlled element.
The ACE2 is ADB Airfield Solutions’ second generation distributed control/monitor system.
ACE2 network communications are compatible with ADB Airfield Solutions’ first generation
system ACE. Thus ACE and ACE2 units can be connected on the same distributed network:
•
Lighting commands are generated in the tower cab by air traffic controllers.
•
Lighting commands are communicated over the main airfield lighting communications
network to the electrical vault computer.
•
The communications server broadcasts the lighting commands over the ACE2 Redundant
Communications Networks A and B.
•
The ACE2 unit executes the command using the corresponding address to which the
lighting command is directed.
•
The command is internally confirmed by the ACE2 and a confirmation is sent back to the
tower computer.
