SBIR-STTR Award

To address the Armys need for generation of configuration data and a framework for simulation and verification of future vertical lift (FVL) aircraft systems against specifications, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Avionics Compositional System of Systems (SoS) Simulation and Modeling Tool Chain (ASSIST). Using avionics system specifications, ASSIST generates mission-specific configurations by modeling system interdependencies and configuring avionics system/components to meet desired mission goals. Using system configuration data as input, ASSIST can set up integrated avionics SoS integrated test and evaluation (IT&E) frameworks using standard object models (OMs) and middleware, generated automatically from configuration data. The innovation in ASSIST enables early detection of defects and verification of avionics functionality against specifications. Detection and rectification of defects, particularly in integrated avionics systems, early in the product lifecycle through simulation-based IT&E directly address the Armys requirements for the Joint Multi-Role project for the FVL program. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of ASSIST and reach TRL-3 by implementing configuration data generation and creation of a prototype IT&E environment. In Phase II, POC plans to mature ASSIST further and reach TRL-5 by including support for diverse heterogeneous systems and a more extensive OM and middleware repository.

To address the Armys need for a simulation and verification framework for future vertical lift (FVL) aircraft systems, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) developed and demonstrated a preliminary prototype of an Avionics Compositional System of Systems (SoS) Simulation and Modeling Tool Chain (ASSIST) in Phase I. ASSIST includes software to parse avionics specifications; automatically generate mission-specific configurations and simulation models; simulate a SoS in an integrated test and evaluation (IT&E) framework; and determine whether the hard/soft real-time interdependencies/constraints are met/violated in SoS subsystems. ASSISTs innovation enables early detection of defects and verification of avionics functionality against specifications. Consequently, ASSIST will be instrumental in dramatically reducing the development/certification time and cost for avionics programs such as the Armys FVL program. In Phase I, POC demonstrated the feasibility of ASSIST and reached TRL-4 by developing and demonstrating a prototype system. The ASSIST prototype simulates a representative integrated modular avionics (IMA) system and models representative features defined in ARINC 664/AFDX for network communication between subsystems, displays defined in ARINC 661, and resources partitioning defined in ARINC 653. In Phase II, POC plans to mature ASSIST and reach TRL-5 by including support for diverse heterogeneous systems, enriching modeled features, and improving SoS modeling fidelity.