{"id":1190,"date":"2021-01-16T14:55:21","date_gmt":"2021-01-16T14:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1190"},"modified":"2025-08-09T14:00:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T14:00:59","slug":"pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/","title":{"rendered":"P&#038;G aircraft cockpit voice recorder (black box) teardown"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In this teardown video I&#8217;ve got something pretty cool; a black box from an RAF Nimrod MRA4 which was a failed project and numerous aircraft were built but were never delivered to the RAF and were later scrapped. This one does show some signs of wear and tear although it may well be damage due to storage and this unit looks like it has never actually been used. The locator beacon on the front which is a circular tube containing a battery and the radio beacon itself is missing however everything else is present.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-scaled.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1191 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Penny &amp; Giles Nimrod MRA4 cockpit voice recorder photo.\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-1040x585.jpg 1040w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It is a solid state recorder utilizing 128Mb of flash memory to store the audio recordings and it is buffered and compressed by the electronics to reduce file size and therefore increase recording time. I found the recorder to be functional as I managed to power it up but unfortunately I was unable to access the recordings or the built in serial menu via the RS232 port on the front panel.<\/p>\n<p>The recorder is powered by two microcontrollers; a Philips 80C51 clone which looks like it serves as the boot processor and a 32 bit AMD AM29200-20 as the main application processor. The boot ROM is stored in a 128kb OTP PROM (which I have dumped) and the device&#8217;s operating system (probably some kind of RTOS) and the application that actually runs the device is stored in separate 512Kb of onboard flash. This looks like it is flashed \/ updated via the serial port on the front panel. Unfortunately it seems that this flash has likely been erased to prevent re-use. The firmware that is stored in the 8051 clone chip hasn&#8217;t been dumped yet and I&#8217;ve yet to determine it&#8217;s exact function.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>A youtube video of it is here and below you can also find a photo album showing the internal components and circuit boards.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" itemprop=\"video\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\">\n\t<meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/btbiwhJLDLo\" \/>\n\t<meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"P&#038;G aircraft cockpit voice recorder (black box) teardown\" \/>\n\t<meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"P&#038;G aircraft cockpit voice recorder (black box) teardown\" \/>\n\t<meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2021-01-16T14:55:21+00:00\" \/>\n\t<meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/btbiwhJLDLo\/default.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta itemprop=\"embedUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/btbiwhJLDLo\" \/>\n\t<meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"340\" \/>\n\t<meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"560\" \/>\n\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: 0;\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"560\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/btbiwhJLDLo\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1190 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/audio-processing-board\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Audio-processing-board-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Audio processing board\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/cvr-photo\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CVR-photo-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Penny &amp; Giles Nimrod MRA4 cockpit voice recorder photo.\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/cpu-board-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/CPU-board-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Main CPU board\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/data-storage-module-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Data-storage-module-2-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Cockpit voice recorder data storage boards\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/data-storage-module\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Data-storage-module-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Top view of flash module\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/flash-storage-interface-board\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Flash-storage-interface-board-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Flash memory and serial interface board\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/pxl_20201230_133000543\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PXL_20201230_133000543-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"PXL 20201230\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/pxl_20201230_132950106\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PXL_20201230_132950106-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"PXL 20201230\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/pxl_20201230_132605615\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PXL_20201230_132605615-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Power input circuit\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/pxl_20201230_125510387\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PXL_20201230_125510387-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Powering up the CVR\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/psu-board\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PSU-board-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Power supply board\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/flash-storage-module-encased\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Flash-storage-module-encased-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Data storage module in fireproof jacket\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/pxl_20210215_134239194-night\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PXL_20210215_134239194.NIGHT_-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Audio Processing Board Enhanced\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/pxl_20210215_134859260-night\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PXL_20210215_134859260.NIGHT_-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"CPU board enhanced\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/01\/pg-aircraft-cockpit-voice-recorder-black-box-teardown\/pxl_20210215_134859260-night-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/PXL_20210215_134859260.NIGHT_-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"CPU board labelled\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this teardown video I&#8217;ve got something pretty cool; a black box from an RAF Nimrod MRA4 which was a failed project and numerous aircraft were built but were never delivered to the RAF and were later scrapped. This one does show some signs of wear and tear although it may well be damage due [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"P&G aircraft cockpit voice recorder (black box) teardown - Adrian's electronics blog","description":"In this teardown video I've got something pretty cool; a black box from an RAF Nimrod MRA4 which was a failed project and numerous aircraft were built but were"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avionics","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1190"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1427,"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1190\/revisions\/1427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adrian-smith31.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}