The effects on reliability of integration of aircraft systems based on integrated modular avionics

Abstract

The integration of aircraft systems - based on INTEGRATED MODULAR AVIONICS (IMA) - has significant effects on reliability. This paper presents the state of development of a software-tool for interactive reliability analysis and evaluation of aircraft system configurations on the IMA platform. For this, a hybrid system model of each aircraft system, being composed of a reliability block diagram model and a model of hierarchical, concurrent finite state machines, is essential. Within the area of reliability, different aircraft system models can be analyzed after they have been logically combined. This novel functionality provides a platform for systems engineers, enabling the evaluation of the effects of system integration by reliability calculations as well as redundancy management in a fault-free state and in cases of component failures. © Springer-Verlag 2004.