MathWorks Offers Tailored Services to Help Meet DO-178 Standards With Model-Based Design

MathWorks today announced the launch of the DO 178 Process Deployment Advisory Service, dedicated Model-Based Design consulting services for DO-178 projects. Now aerospace engineers can gain increased confidence that high-integrity applications developed using MATLAB and Simulink comply with DO standards such as DO-178B, DO-178C, and DO-331, the Model-Based Development and Verification Supplement to DO-178C and DO-278A.

The DO-178 Process Deployment Advisory Service educates engineers on the standard, identifies gaps in the current processes, provides a road map to a more optimized process framework using Model-Based Design, and assists in deploying that road map. MathWorks consultants walk through the following steps as part of the Advisory Service:

1. Familiarization with Existing Processes and Tools:

Review the current flight software development process, tools, application, required safety levels (A-E), and planning documents including tool qualification.

2. Gap Analysis:

Perform a gap analysis based on the knowledge gained in step 1 to identify current challenges and process efficiency improvements, training, and changes that may be necessary for a DO-178 process framework using Model-Based Design. This includes developing an actionable road map with a phased approach to achieve the recommended improvements.

3. Targeted Instruction:

Provide instructions to fill the gaps identified in step 2 and describe DO-178 fundamentals and the process framework for using Model-Based Design. Examine tools used to automate key development and verification activities based on needs, generally including model checking, code generation, code inspection, and report generation.

4. Hands-On Deployment Support:

Apply the knowledge gained in step 3 to a specific project. Consultants can assist with a wide range of areas including modeling, simulation, code generation, verification, validation, and certification. Certification and compliance assistance includes preparing the tool chain and generating or creating documents such as the PSAC and DO-178 tool qualification artifacts using the DO Qualification Kit.

The DO Qualification Kit from MathWorks aids tool qualification for DO-178 and related standards. The Kit provides documentation, test cases, and procedures to qualify Simulink or Polyspace code verification products for projects based on the DO-178 standard.

The DO-178 Process Deployment Advisory Service complements the ISO 26262 Process Deployment Advisory Service recently introduced for high-integrity automotive system development.

For more information on Model-Based Design for DO-178 support, watch this MathWorks webinar: Model-Based Design for DO-178 Using Tool Qualification Kits (35:24).