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Run-time Verification and Validation for Safety-Critical Flight Control Systems

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-04-M-3427
Agency Tracking Number: F041-246-2327
Amount: $99,868.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF04-246
Solicitation Number: 2004.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2004
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2004-05-11
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2005-03-11
Small Business Information
1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 300
Charlottesville, VA 22901
United States
DUNS: 120839477
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Carl Elks
 Research Scientist
 (434) 973-1215
 elks@barron-associates.com
Business Contact
 David Ward
Title: President
Phone: (434) 973-1215
Email: barron@barron-associates.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

As the complexity of flight controllers grows so does the cost associated with verification and validation (V&V). Current-generation controllers are already reaching a level of complexity that pushes the envelopes of existing V&V approaches, and there is little hope for affordable V&V of next-generation intelligent systems. One possible solution is to combine runtime monitors for complex systems with simple controllers that can provide a reversionary mode during undesirable conditions. Such an architecture allows the V&V to be partitioned into design-time V&V (for the relatively simple monitor and fail-safe controller), and runtime V&V (of the complex controller). Barron Associates proposes an aggressive Phase I plan of research to develop both the monitoring algorithms as well as fail-safe controller approaches for flight-critical systems. The monitoring technology will leverage related runtime V&V work done for non-aerospace safety-critical applications, and the fail-safe control approach will be based on a partitioning of the control tasks into those required for stability and safe return (the fail-safe system) and those required for acceptable performance and mission success (the mission controller). One innovative aspect of Phase I will be the development of runtime V&V approaches for both single-vehicle systems as well as multi-vehicle coordinated control systems.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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