Final Report - Regulatory Considerations for Adaptive Systems.

This report documents the findings of a preliminary research study into new approaches to the software design assurance of adaptive systems. The authors suggest a methodology to overcome the software validation and verification difficulties posed by the underlying assumption of non-adaptive software in the requirements-based-testing verification methods in RTCA/DO-178B and C. An analysis of the relevant RTCA/DO-178B and C objectives is presented showing the reasons for the difficulties that arise in showing satisfaction of the objectives and suggested additional means by which they could be satisfied. The authors suggest that the software design assurance problem for adaptive systems is principally one of developing correct and complete high level requirements and system level constraints that define the necessary system functional and safety properties to assure the safe use of adaptive systems. The authors show how analytical techniques such as model based design, mathematical modeling and formal or formal-like methods can be used to both validate the high level functional and safety requirements, establish necessary constraints and provide the verification evidence for the satisfaction of requirements and constraints that supplements conventional testing. Finally the report identifies the follow-on research topics needed to implement this methodology.

• Record URL:
  http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20140000469.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Langley Research Center
  Hampton, VA  United States  23681

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Washington, DC  United States  20546
• Authors:
  • Wilkinson, Chris
  • Lynch, Jonathan
  • Bharadwaj, Raj
• Publication Date: 2013-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 46p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adaptive control; Regulations; Software; System design; System safety; Validation
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment; I73: Traffic Control; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01526275
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NASA/CR-2013-218010
• Contract Numbers: NNL06AA05B; NNL12AB32T
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 28 2014 3:26PM