Airworthy-Certification Compliant Specification Modeling Framework for Avionics Development

In this paper we propose a comprehensive systems engineering modeling framework for the development of safety critical avionics components. The framework which complies with commercial regulatory and airworthiness objectives, integrates the three distinct high-level specification models: system, hardware, and software. Each model contains an abstract representation of the functional, performance, interface, and safety characteristics; and also enables architecture decomposition. The modeling framework facilitates relationships between the structural, behavioral, interface, and requirements elements contained to enable a seamless flow of information across the three models. While domain experts develop the individual models, the models themselves are managed and stored as an integrated baseline and acts as a single source of truth. The use of a system engineering tool makes it possible to connect to higher level system models and enable a digital thread consisting of interfaces and signals, safety functions, requirements, and Design Assurance Levels. Benefits of this approach include improved design quality as well as enhanced communication and collaboration between systems engineers, software engineers, and hardware engineers.