Using behavioral mixed-signal simulation to implement COTS rapid technology insertion in avionics systems

The Department of Defense (DoD) has specific goals to reduce acquisition cost, shorten development time and allow rapid technology insertion into avionics systems. The DoD funded Boeing to perform a study on methods to accomplish these goals. The Diagnostics for Acquisition (DFA) study was broken into three efforts: simulation, demonstration, and studies. In the simulation effort, creation of functional, or behavioral, models of avionics subsystem components based on functional specifications will facilitate the use of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) equipment and procedures to accomplish the DoD goals. The development of the avionics subsystem components are based on performance-based build-to specifications. For the purposes of this DFA study, the test engineers were not allowed to examine supplemental documentation or schematics from which to develop test programs.