摘要: |
The intent of this report is to provide findings about safety issues in using today's microprocessors on aircraft. It considers the applicability of RTCA/DO-254 to microprocessors, documents potential safety concerns when using modern microprocessors on aircraft, and proposes potential approaches for addressing these safety concerns. The project is being performed in two phases with participation from avionic system developers (BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, 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 documented in this report. This report presents an assessment of existing certification guidelines towards certification of microprocessors. It indicates that new validation processes are required in addition to the existing ones. The report identifies that microprocessor obsolescence management may become a significant problem in the future due to rapidly changing designs. This report also addresses unpredictable issues in computational components of the microprocessors that may lead to safety concerns in avionics applications. The microprocessor testing and evaluation trends are presented, and several safety concerns are identified related to the testing and validation. In the next phase, studies will be made to incorporate a set of recommended guidelines towards selection and qualification of microprocessors in the certification process. |