MADEQ: A model for Avionics Device Qualification

The qualification of electronic devices is considered an important task for large and even small companies. Nowadays, it is common to find devices affecting the operation of others, depending on the amount of their interference and immunity. This problem becomes worse when such devices need to interact and work together within critical environments. Examples of critical environments can be found in aircrafts. In this case, devices must work together with no detrimental incompatibility or risks for electronic devices integrity or users safety. Almost all types of electronic devices are susceptible to external interference. This phenomenon is growing both by the increasing use of electronics and by the decreasing immunity of modern equipment using plastic cases and microprocessors. It is important to emphasize that only previously qualified devices have been allowed to integrate with other devices. There are many ways to qualify electronic devices. In that context, this work starts from the hypothesis that qualifying a device is a mandatory requirement to integrate it with others. This hypothesis has been evolved, developed, and finally implemented into a model to qualify avionics devices. This model was named MADEQ - a Model for Avionics Device Qualification. The MADEQ applies to streamline the device deployment process by reducing resources on its development and integration. The proposed model involves the conceptualization, description and implementation of the following four components: (i) Test Equipment, (ii) Definitions, (iii) Environmental Testing, and (iv) Results Analysis. It was applied to an avionics system case study. The authors of this paper believe that the proposed model application on the electronics devices domain may allow resources reductions and process integration improvements. It is supported by international standards providing assessments for the level of disturbance generated by or received from devices. This work summarizes some subjects from a doctoral research being developed at the Brazilian Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA).