HASP: Hardware software avionic system performance

The complexity of evolving avionic systems and standards demands the need for cost effective risk reduction to facilitate the smooth transition into new technologies. Simulation modeling and analysis provides a flexible means of achieving this aim. This paper describes the development of an avionic modeling suite that can be applied to the assessment of avionic architectures and standards. New avionic architecture concepts can be developed and investigated within the modeling framework. Evolving avionic standards can also be evaluated. Within the framework three modeling domains have been defined: behavioural, performance, and visualization. Behavioural models constitute primarily the software components of a system, the performance models analyze the hardware concepts, and visualization models provide a means of understanding the system's operation. Collectively these domains form the Hardware/software Avionic System Performance (HASP) simulation and modeling analysis facility. It is shown how the mapping of avionic functionality across a physical avionic architecture can be assessed and also how the interaction between hardware and software components of a system can be evaluated. It is also shown how HASP can identify architecture performance bottlenecks and how the capacity of a system to support avionic functionality can be derived.