An Approach to IMA System Design and Development Based on Models

摘要

It is a great step for avionics from federated to integrated avionics system. Now it has been widely accepted that concept of integrated modular avionics (IMA) system, which has been applied in the development of new aircraft platforms. An integrated modular avionics system presents many benefits in power, volume and weight savings for a new aircraft platform, but also creates two new challenges for avionics system designers. First, an IMA system increases the difficulties in systems design, integration and verification due to larger system scale, more complexity in both interaction and integration between systems. Second, the development cycle of IMA systems and products is generally 5 to 10 years and the service life for avionics and aircraft is about 20 to 30 years. Due to Moore's law constraints, avionics system will be faced with difficulties of legacy technology and challenges, which lead the cost increasing for avionics development and maintenance. It is necessary to develop new or refining existing methods to ensure that avionics system growing in size and complexity can be developed more efficiently. An approach to IMA system development based on models and their prototype is proposed in this paper in order to improve current system development process and meet the demands of development for integrated modular avionics.