Automating Criteria Evaluation in Safety-Critical Avionic Systems

As the complexities of avionic systems increase, our system-level verification methods have remained stagnant. New requirements are added with each iteration of design, impacting the level of testing needed for full test coverage, while hardware or software updates require verification testing that transcends its predecessors. At Triumph Integrated Systems, (Triumph), DO-178 B/C level A formal qualification testing requires several engineer reviewers to verify a system works as intended. Generally, it takes a week or less to execute a test and gather data, but several weeks to evaluate said test. There is opportunity for improvement in this system. This paper describes how Triumph Engine Control Systems' Automated Criteria Evaluation (ACE) takes the test case review process time and reduces it effectively. ACE is intended to replace one human reviewer using MathWorks® based programing, which breaks down natural criteria language for interpretation and evaluation. ACE aims to increase efficiency, assure precision, improve repeatability, and has the potential to lower development costs. This paper highlights how ACE will drastically cut criteria evaluation time while increasing productivity and accuracy of test review results without impacting the integrity or safety of the tested Level A software.