Integrated modular avionics: system modelling

Through the need to reduce the risk of adopting future avionic architectures and standards a better understanding of the operation of evolving system instances and standards early in the design cycle are required. A flexible means of achieving this aim is to conduct an analysis through the development of an avionic system model based on behavioural and performance simulation. This paper defines a modelling framework for the construction of an avionic system model that would provide a means of assessing the hardware and software components and their interaction in a system. The Shlaer-Mellor object oriented analysis method has been used to defined the model. To form an avionic system model three modelling domains have been defined: behavioural, performance and visualisation. Behavioural models constitute primarily the software components of the system, the performance models analyse the hardware concepts, and visualisation models provide a means of understanding the system's operation. The modelling domains can be applied separately or they can be linked together to form a system model. A developed performance model of the aeronautical radio, INC (ARINC) 651 integrated modular avionic architecture is described. It is discussed how architecture bottlenecks and system capacity can be derived. An APplication/EXecutive is also described. The behavioural analysis of this interface is illustrated. System visualisation concepts are also discussed. Validation of the avionic modelling suite is also considered. How the various modelling components can be combined to form an avionic system model is also described. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.