Standards and Interoperability: A Systems Engineering Perspective

As the diversity of aircraft systems seeking integration into the air transportation system grows, interoperability is emerging as a key requirement throughout the design process and life cycle. The growth of UAS applications offers a prime example. While seemingly straightforward, interoperability varies extensively in meaning and context. To paint a clear picture, this chapter will provide a background on the history, concepts, and challenges in interoperability from a systems engineer's perspective. Rather than pursuing a deeply detailed review on interoperability, this chapter will highlight some commonly used standards for unmanned systems and implications of various mechanical, electrical, information, and programming principles. The chapter will also explain various types or levels of interoperability and reflect on their significance to different stakeholders, importance to system requirements, modeling frameworks for future and legacy systems, and criterion for acceptable interoperability practices. While this chapter may focus on UAS, several examples will also reference software, hardware, and policy. Keywords: information; interoperability; modeling; simulation; STANAG 4586; standards; systems