The feasibility and benefits of dynamic reconfiguration in integrated modular avionics

Integrated modular avionics has been proposed as a means of reducing avionics development and operating costs, by standardisation of avionics hardware and non-application-specific software. With the introduction of integrated modular avionics, there is the possibility of dynamically reconfiguring available resources, to preserve the most critical functions, when failures occur. This paper examines the feasibility of dynamic reconfiguration within the system architectures proposed by ARINC 651 and assesses the potential benefits. The analysis shows that at least two of the architectures proposed by ARINC 651 are well suited to reconfiguration and that although there are certification problems that must be considered, these problems do not appear intractable. Significant benefits, in terms of reduced redundancy, improved availability and higher levels of safety can potentially be obtained. The paper also shows that reconfiguration is only required locally, within a cabinet, and that large benefits are still obtainable even with relatively small cabinet sizes. This reduces the complexity and cost of any reconfiguration scheme and increases flexibility so that any reconfiguration scheme developed can be easily adapted to differing aircraft requirements. The development of an autonomous reconfiguration scheme, in which individual modules determine their own function is particularly attractive, as it can offer reduced susceptibility to common mode failure, and provides fault tolerance within the reconfiguration process itself.