Quality Research Associates proposes to develop an innovative process for identification and mitigation of software design fault risk for critical computer-based systems. The innovativeness of this approach is that it provides automated and quantitative support for software fault risk reduction actions. Identification of critical components is based on the hardware/software dynamic system fault tree and quantifying software failure probability. This is relevant and important to meeting NASA's need for automated, interactive software design and analysis to achieve significant life cycle cost reduction for highly complex software systems. This is directly applicable to the safety and ultra-high reliability and performance requirements of NASA's aeronautics and space missions. The Phase I objective is to develop and determine the feasibility of our process. We will develop process details and demonstrate its effectiveness in Phase I. The Phase II objectives are to implement a tool incorporating the Phase I-developed techniques and process. The anticipated result of Phase I efforts is the feasibility determination indicating our process will significantly enhance risk reduction in computer-based systems. NASA applications include software fault risk assessment and mitigation in any computer-based system. The benefits include increased effectiveness in this assessment and the potential for more reliable and safe systems. POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS Reliable and safety-critical systems exist in aerospace, military, commercial, and industrial environments. The market for an enhanced software design fault risk mitigation tool includes, for example, developers of flight and air traffic control systems, nuclear and other plant control systems, banking and transaction systems, medical equipment control systems, and other computer-based systems. This effort is applicable to all safety- and mission-critical software and systems engineering efforts.
