AMS AFDAU T-1 User manual

AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
AFDAU T-1
Aerial Firefighting Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
i
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Airborne Mission Systems Pty Ltd. (AMS), All rights Reserved
This publication is the property of Airborne Mission Systems Pty Ltd (AMS) and is protected by Australian copyright
laws. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of AMS.
Product Warranty
This product manufactured by AMS is warranted to be free of defects in workmanship or performance for 2 years from
the date of installation by an authorized AMS installer. This warranty covers the cost of all materials and labour to
repair or replace the unit but does not include the cost of transporting the defective unit to and from AMS or its
designated warranty repair centre, or of removing and replacing the defective unit in the aircraft. This warranty does
not cover failures due to abuse, misuse, accident, or unauthorized alteration or repairs.
THIS WARRANTY IS VOID IF THE PRODUCT IS NOT INSTALLED BY AN AUTHORIZED AMS INSTALLER. If the
product registration card is not completed and returned to AMS, the product will be warranted from the date of the
purchase invoice or tax receipt.
Contact AMS for return authorization, and for any questions regarding this warranty and how it applies to your unit(s).
AMS is the final arbiter concerning warranty issues.
Important Notice
The information contained in this document is subject to change at any time and without notice. To ensure this is the
current version, visit the AMS website: www.airbornemissionsystems.com or contact [e-mail]

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
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Log of Revisions
Revision
Date
Change Notes
1
2 Oct 2020
Initial Revision
2
6 Oct 2020
Moved duplicate Drop Type heading from Section 1.3.5 to Section 1.3.6.
3
18 Oct 2020
Added installation wiring diagrams, connector pinout description, mechanical
diagrams and troubleshooting section.
4
13 Nov 2020
Added Landing Gear Stowed/Deployed discrete. Updated AFDAU Config Tool
instructions.
5
23 Nov 2020
Changed RS232 Port 2 pin labels to the correct pin labels on Diagrams 1A and 1B
6
1 Jun 2021
Added Helitak Tank PLC interface description and wiring diagram. Added fixed
wing additive type select wiring diagram. Corrected RS232 Labels in connector
pinout table. Added caution note the Take Off/Landing description.
7
22 Sept 2021
Added CAUTION note regarding dual bucket system wiring in Section 2.2.3. Added
Hover Start/Stop event details. Added Onboard Systems C40 indicator interface
description and wiring diagram. Added Flightcell DZMx modem interface
description and wiring diagram. Corrected Relay pin outs in Section 8 wiring
diagrams. Corrected connector reference of MSI-150XM from J2 to J1. Added
Asset Type configuration instructions.
Cautions and Notes
The following information boxes are used to draw the installers attention to specific facts relevant to the information
being presented.
CAUTION
IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT IMPACTS INSTALLATION DESIGN
NOTE
Additional context to assist with installer decision making

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
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Table of Contents
Description................................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................1
Description........................................................................................................................................................1
Events................................................................................................................................................................3
1.3.1 Engine Start / Stop ........................................................................................................................................3
1.3.2 Take-off / Landing .........................................................................................................................................3
1.3.3 Hover Start / Hover Stop (Rotary-Wing Only)...............................................................................................3
1.3.4 Fill..................................................................................................................................................................4
1.3.5 Drop Start......................................................................................................................................................6
1.3.6 Drop Stop ......................................................................................................................................................7
Specifications ..................................................................................................................................................10
Limitations.......................................................................................................................................................10
Installation Overview ..............................................................................................................................................11
Minimum Requirements.................................................................................................................................11
Interfaced Equipment and Sensors Considerations........................................................................................11
2.2.1 Engine Start/Stop........................................................................................................................................11
2.2.2 Take-off/Landing.........................................................................................................................................11
2.2.3 Container Door Open..................................................................................................................................12
2.2.4 ............................................................................................................................................................................12
2.2.5 Premix Select...............................................................................................................................................13
2.2.6 Additive Select ............................................................................................................................................13
2.2.7 Additive Pump On .......................................................................................................................................13
2.2.8 Container Select..........................................................................................................................................14
2.2.9 Landing Gear Stowed/Deployed .................................................................................................................14
2.2.10 Container Volume .......................................................................................................................................15
2.2.11 Modems ......................................................................................................................................................17
Discrete Sensors..............................................................................................................................................18
2.3.1 Overview .....................................................................................................................................................18
2.3.2 Relays ..........................................................................................................................................................18
2.3.3 General Purpose Inputs...............................................................................................................................20
Configuration Overview..........................................................................................................................................21
Asset Type.......................................................................................................................................................21
RS-232 Ports....................................................................................................................................................21

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
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Legacy Loadcell Interface................................................................................................................................22
Reabe Probe Offset.........................................................................................................................................22
Airframe Inputs ...............................................................................................................................................23
Installation Procedures ...........................................................................................................................................25
Incoming Inspection........................................................................................................................................25
Standard Procedures.......................................................................................................................................25
Structural Installation......................................................................................................................................25
Wiring Installation...........................................................................................................................................25
Post Installation Procedures ...........................................................................................................................26
4.5.1 Wiring Inspection........................................................................................................................................26
4.5.2 Power-on Checks.........................................................................................................................................26
4.5.3 Configuration ..............................................................................................................................................26
4.5.4 Functional Checks .......................................................................................................................................26
Configuration and Firmware Update ......................................................................................................................28
Requirements..................................................................................................................................................28
Installing the AFDAU Config Tool....................................................................................................................29
Updating the AFDAU-T1 Firmware .................................................................................................................30
Configuring the AFDAU-T1..............................................................................................................................33
Configuring the RockAIR .................................................................................................................................37
Configuring the DZMx .....................................................................................................................................38
Configuring the MSI-1 Indicator......................................................................................................................39
Troubleshooting......................................................................................................................................................40
Mechanical Drawings..............................................................................................................................................41
Connector Pinouts...................................................................................................................................................42
P1 –Main Connector.......................................................................................................................................42
Wiring Diagrams......................................................................................................................................................43
Wiring Installation Considerations..................................................................................................................44
Modem Interface –RockAIR ...........................................................................................................................45
Modem Interface –v2track.............................................................................................................................46
Modem Interface –DZMx...............................................................................................................................47
Additive Interface –Helicopter Typical Installation........................................................................................48
Additive Interface –Helicopter SEI Sacksafoam Controller............................................................................49
Additive Interface –Fixed Wing Typical Installation.......................................................................................50
Container Interface.........................................................................................................................................51
Container Interface –Buckets.........................................................................................................................52

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
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Volume Sensor Interface –Reabe Probe System............................................................................................53
Volume Sensor Interface –Loadcell Indicator Interfaces...............................................................................54
Volume Sensor Interface –Helitak Tank.........................................................................................................55

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
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Description
Introduction
This manual provides a description of the AMS AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting Data Acquisition Unit and instructions for
installation to fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.
Before commencing installation of the AFDAU-T1 please ensure this installation manual has been read and the
requirements understood.
Description
The AFDAU-T1 is an aerial firefighting data acquisition unit with onboard data processing capabilities allowing real
time event detection and transmission. Refer to Section 1.3 for a detailed list of real time events that the AFDAU-T1
can detect and transmit.
The AFDAU-T1 has six (6) open/ground input pins and six (6) internal relay inputs. The internal relay inputs can be
individually configured for ground or power switching.
These inputs can be used to enable real time detection of:
•Engine on/off state,
•Airborne/ground state,
•Container (Bucket/Tank/Hopper) open state,
•Premix Type, Additive Type and Additive Pump On state
•Container type, and
•Landing gear stowed/deployed (for seaplane float landing/take-off detection)
The AFDAU-T1 can be interfaced with the following gauging systems to enable real time detection of fill, drop start
and drop stop volume events:
•Onboard Systems Load Weigh System w/ C39 Indicator,
•Onboard Systems Load Weigh System w/ C40 Indicator,
•MSI Sky Weigh System w/ MSI-150XM Indicator,
•MSI Sky Weigh System w/MSI-1 Indicator,
•Reabe Aircraft Improvement True Quantity Gauge, or
•Helitak Tank Control PLC.
The AFDAU-T1 will generate event messages that will appear on TracPlus Pro 3 and v2viewer live map software
when interfaced with the serial port of the following modems:
•TracPlus RockAIR,
•TracPlus v2track, or
•Flightcell DZMx.(Platform 3 and 4 only)

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
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FEATURE
DESCRIPTION
POWER LED
Indicates that the unit is receiving power, this LED is supplied by an
internal 5VDC bus. This LED is a steady green when system is operating
normally. No LED indication could mean no airframe power supply to the
P1 Main connector, or an internal fault with the power supply system.
STATUS LED
The STATUS LED indicates the following:
OFF: No power supply, or internal fault
ON STEADY: The unit is in a bootloader mode during initial boot up
phase or while installing firmware
SLOW PULSE: Indicates that the unit is operating normally
FAST PULSE: Indicates that the unit is transferring data to or from a PC
during a firmware or configuration read/write operation.
HEARTBEAT: Indicates a corrupt configuration, the unit is in a suspended
operation state until a new configuration is written using the AFDAU-T1
Configuration Tool.
P1 MAIN CONNECTOR
Main I/O connector
PROGRAMMING PORT
Used to connect to a PC running the AFDAU-T1 Configuration Tool.
POWER LED
STATUS LED
P1 MAIN
CONNECTOR
USB MINI B
PROGRAMMING
PORT

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
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Events
1.3.1 Engine Start / Stop
Refer to Section 2.2.1 for details on interfacing an Engine start/stop sensor. When this event is detected a message is
transmitted via the connected modem.
Application: TracPlus Pro 3
ENGINE
Start
Stop
1.3.2 Take-off / Landing
Refer to Section 2.2.2 for details on interfacing a Take-off/Landing sensor. When this event is detected a message is
transmitted via the connected modem.
Application: TracPlus Pro 3
AIRBORNE
Take-off
Landing
1.3.3 Hover Start / Hover Stop (Rotary-Wing Only)
When the AFDAU-T1 is configured for a rotary-wing airframe and connected to a modem, it will process hover start
and stop messages. For modem connection information refer Section 2.2.11.
HOVER
Hover Start
Hover Stop

AFDAU-T1 Aerial Firefighting
Data Acquisition Unit
Installation Manual
AMS-IM-1-01 Rev. 7
22 September 2021
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1.3.4 Fill
The AFDAU-T1 will detect a Fill event when the selected container (refer Section 2.2.8), such as bucket, tank or
hopper, volume increases in a typical fashion which would be characteristic of that type of container. For this event to
be detected a volume gauge input must be connected to the AFDAU-T1 and properly configured, refer Section 2.2.10
The following additional data will be sent with the Fill event message:
Volume
This is the volume of water in the container at the end of the fill operation, being either picking up, or pumping in. This
value is in Litres.
Product Type
The product type message can be one of four attributes:
1. WATER
2. GEL
3. FOAM
4. RETARDANT
The product type defaults to WATER if no premix or additive inputs are detected or connected. A Premix Type (refer
Section 2.2.7) discrete input can be used to switch between WATER and RETARDANT filled.
If an active Additive Pump On (refer Section 2.2.7) discrete input is detected before the fill occurs, the product type is
set to either FOAM or GEL depending on the state of the Additive Select (refer Section 2.2.6) discrete input. If no
Additive Select input is connected when the Additive Pump On is detected the product type defaults to FOAM.
If the additive is added after the fill event, the AFDAU-T1 will send any injection of additive that may happen enroute to
the drop site with the Drop Start message, see Section 1.3.5. This would result in the Fill message product type being
WATER and the Drop Start message product type being either FOAM or GEL.
Container Type
The container type can be one of two attributes:
1. TANK
2. BUCKET
On single container aircraft, the container type is automatically detected and will reflect the container on which the fill
event was generated.
On dual container (bucket and tank) rotary-wing aircraft the container type is selected via a Container Select (refer
Section 2.2.8) discrete input.