REVIEW OF PENDING GUIDANCE AND INDUSTRY FINDINGS ON COMMERCIAL OFF-THE- SHELF (COTS) ELECTRONICS IN AIRBORNE SYSTEMS.

Abstract : The intent of this report is to provide findings about the state of the industry relative to the design objectives identified in guidance document DO-254 with focus on the implications for the use of commercial off-the shelf (COTS) electronic hardware components in safety critical airborne systems. The use of complex electronic hardware components in airborne systems poses a challenge to the meeting of safety requirements because, for complex components, complete verification is, at best, very difficult and, at worst, not achievable. In order to address the potential lack of complete verification, it is recommended that the hardware design life cycle processes should include design assurances to mitigate the possibility that design errors may be introduced into the hardware component and cause anomalous behavior. New technologies, being developed in the commercial sector, could provide enhanced safety in airborne systems if the technologies could be incorporated at an affordable cost. However, the use of COTS components in airborne systems raises a number of issues with respect to meeting airborne system safety requirements and DO-254 objectives. Commercial market trends are rapidly diverging from the needs of safety critical airborne systems. Issues with respect to COTS usage may become barriers in certain cases, if necessary assurances cannot be achieved in a cost effective manner. The assurances required for high criticality applications such as levels A and B will probably not be attainable for COTS components without mitigation by other means.