Microprocessor Evaluations for Safety-Critical, Real-Time Applications: Authority for Expenditure No. 43 Phase 3 Report

This report discusses the findings concerning safety issues in using todays commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) microprocessors on aircraft. The report addresses the applicability of RTCA/DO-254 to microprocessors, documents potential safety concerns when using modern COTS microprocessors on aircraft, and proposes potential approaches for addressing these safety concerns. The research was performed in multiple phases with participation from avionic system developers (BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, and Smiths Aerospace) and Federal Aviation Administration organizations responsible for aircraft safety research and development. Phase 1 established the project scope and identified the research parameters, as well as reviewed the available literature and surveyed microprocessor users to identify the issues and potential solutions associated with the use of COTS microprocessors in regulated, safety-critical applications. Phase 2 developed the project objectives and found an approach to work toward the solution of these issues and the achievement of these objectives. Phase 3, documented in this report, evaluated the proposed approach and continued the development of processes, services, and prototype tool development. Phase 4, depending heavily on industry experience, will attempt to determine if new approaches can be developed to ensure system safety and provide more effective methods to accumulate safety evidence for certification while reducing the time and cost to develop and certify complex systems. These results will be documented in a Microprocessor Selection and Evaluation Handbook to facilitate application to real-time, safety-critical applications.

• Record URL:
  http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/air_software/media/AR-08-55.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas A&M University, College Station

  Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, CE/TTI Building, 3136 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3136

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Mahapatra, R N
  • Bhojwani, P
  • Lee, J H
  • Kim, Y
• Publication Date: 2009-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Pagination: 43p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft operations; Aviation safety; Avionics; Certification; Microprocessors; Real time information
• Uncontrolled Terms: Critical systems
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01150334
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 19 2010 10:56AM