Aircraft Control Unit Command Interpreter for DO-178 Validation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft control and interface units face challenges in efficiently configuring and validating software to meet stringent safety and reliability requirements, particularly due to the complexity of FAA's DO-178 regulations, which demand deterministic and reliable performance in airborne environments.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a command set and command interpreter or parser architecture that uses a fixed, non-compiled, text-format command set stored in isolated memory, allowing for automatic interpretation and execution, thereby simplifying development and validation by eliminating the need for compiler qualification and ensuring deterministic operation across various applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional compiled software programming is used in aircraft control units, then software functionality can be implemented, but the development and validation process becomes extremely complex and time-consuming due to FAA DO-178 certification requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware reliabilityVSAvoiddevelopment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional compiled software execution model with an interpreted command-set architecture. Instead of compiling complex software code that requires extensive validation, the system uses a fixed set of pre-validated interpreted commands that are simpler to certify. This substitution of the software execution mechanism fundamentally reduces development complexity while maintaining reliability through the interpreted architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of software representation from compiled binary code to text-based command sets. This parameter change enables the use of a fixed, limited vocabulary of commands that can be pre-validated, thereby reducing the complexity of development and validation processes while ensuring software reliability through systematic interpretation of these standardized commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If custom software is developed for each aircraft control application, then specific application requirements are met, but the time and resources required for validation increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication adaptabilityVSAvoidvalidation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal interpreted command-set architecture that can handle multiple aircraft control applications through a single fixed set of commands. This universal framework allows the same interpretation engine to serve different applications by simply changing the command sequences, thereby providing application adaptability without requiring separate validation for each custom software implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining and pre-validating a fixed set of interpreted commands before actual application deployment. This preliminary creation of a standardized command vocabulary eliminates the need for repeated validation of software logic for each application, significantly reducing validation time while maintaining the ability to adapt to different applications through command sequencing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If extensive software validation is performed to meet safety requirements, then aircraft control safety is ensured, but the development process becomes lengthy and resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaircraft control safetyVSAvoiddevelopment productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the validation burden from custom application software and concentrates it on a fixed, limited set of interpreted commands. By separating the interpretation engine (which requires validation) from the application-specific command sequences (which inherit validation), the system ensures aircraft control safety through thorough validation of the core interpreter while dramatically improving development productivity for new applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11014689B2Command interpreter or command parser based control architecture for aircraft control, interface units and/or illuminated pushbutton switches

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 APPLIED AVIONICS INC

AI summary

An aircraft control or interface unit with a programmable controller includes an isolated, non-volatile command memory containing the complete, fixed set of non-compiled, text-format commands used for every application programmed into an instance of the aircraft control or interface unit. A command interpreter automatically and sequentially interprets and executes the command set in a continuous loop, where the command set encompasses all commands necessary for the ability to activate, implement and disable all available input, output and processing capabilities within the hardware configuration of the aircraft control or interface unit. A command parser that process and stores the entire command set into executable commands for automatic and sequential execution in a continuous loop, where the command set encompasses all commands necessary for the ability to activate, implement and disable all available input, output and processing capabilities within the hardware configuration of the aircraft control or interface unit.