DO-178C Guide: Introduction to RTCA DO-178 Certification
Table of Contents
DO-178C Design Assurance and Relationship with ARP-4754A/4761
Introduction
Aviation software development involves stringent safety standards to ensure the reliability and integrity of airborne systems. Two key standards in the field are DO-178C and its relationship with ARP-4754A/4761. DO-178C defines the guidelines for developing software in airborne systems, while ARP-4754A/4761 provides guidance for the development of aircraft and systems. This article explores the significance of DO-178C in design assurance and its relationship with ARP-4754A/4761.
Understanding DO-178C Design Assurance
DO-178C, titled “Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification,” is a standard published by the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA). It outlines the requirements and processes for the development of airborne software to ensure its safety and reliability. DO-178C establishes a set of objectives, activities, and artifacts necessary for software development, verification, and validation in the aviation industry.
Objectives of DO-178C Design Assurance
The primary objectives of DO-178C design assurance include:
- Determining the software criticality level (DAL) based on the aircraft and system safety assessment.
- Identifying the software development and verification processes necessary to meet the DAL.
- Planning and documenting the software development and verification activities.
- Executing the development and verification processes and generating the required artifacts.
- Evaluating and approving the generated artifacts, ensuring compliance with DO-178C objectives.
Levels of DO-178C Design Assurance
DO-178C categorizes software into five levels of criticality, called Software Levels (SWL). Each level has associated objectives and activities that must be met to achieve design assurance. The SWLs are as follows:
- SWL A: Critical software that, if it fails, could cause catastrophic consequences.
- SWL B: Software that, if it fails, could cause hazardous or severe consequences.
- SWL C: Software that, if it fails, could cause major or moderate consequences.
- SWL D: Software that, if it fails, could cause minor consequences.
- SWL E: Software that does not significantly affect the safety of the aircraft.
Activities and Artifacts in DO-178C Design Assurance
To achieve design assurance, DO-178C specifies several activities and artifacts at each SWL. These include requirements capture and analysis, software architectural design, source code development, software verification, and configuration management. Some key artifacts produced during these activities are the Software Requirements Document (SRD), Software Design Document (SDD), Software Verification Cases and Procedures (SVCP), and Software Configuration Index (SCI).
Relationship with ARP-4754A
ARP-4754A, titled “Guidelines for Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems,” provides guidance for the development and certification of aircraft and systems. It outlines a systems engineering approach to aircraft development and emphasizes the need for safety and reliability. ARP-4754A provides a framework for the integration of software into the overall aircraft system.
DO-178C and ARP-4754A are closely related as they address different aspects of the aircraft development process. DO-178C focuses specifically on the software aspects, while ARP-4754A covers the entire aircraft and system development. DO-178C is referenced by ARP-4754A as the standard for software development and certification.
The relationship between DO-178C and ARP-4754A can be summarized as follows:
- ARP-4754A provides high-level guidance on the overall aircraft development process, including system-level requirements, safety assessment, and integration of software.
- DO-178C provides detailed guidelines for the development and certification of software, ensuring compliance with the safety and reliability objectives outlined in ARP-4754A.
- DO-178C defines the software development and verification processes that need to be followed to meet the objectives set by ARP-4754A.
- ARP-4754A requires the software development process to be aligned with DO-178C objectives and artifacts, such as software plans, requirements, design, and verification activities.
- Compliance with both DO-178C and ARP-4754A is necessary to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the aircraft and its software systems.
Relationship with ARP-4761
ARP-4761, titled “Guidelines and Methods for Conducting the Safety Assessment Process on Civil Airborne Systems and Equipment,” provides guidance for the safety assessment process of airborne systems and equipment. It focuses on identifying and mitigating hazards associated with aircraft systems, including software.
DO-178C and ARP-4761 are closely linked, as the software development process defined in DO-178C contributes to the safety assessment process outlined in ARP-4761. The relationship between DO-178C and ARP-4761 can be summarized as follows:
- DO-178C provides guidelines for the development and certification of software, which is a crucial component of airborne systems.
- ARP-4761 outlines the safety assessment process for airborne systems and equipment, including the identification of hazards and the determination of safety requirements.
- The software development process defined in DO-178C includes activities such as requirements capture, design, verification, and traceability, which contribute to the identification and mitigation of hazards during the safety assessment process.
- DO-178C ensures that the software meets the necessary safety requirements as identified in ARP-4761.
- Compliance with both DO-178C and ARP-4761 is essential to ensure that the software is developed and assessed in a manner that guarantees the safety and reliability of the aircraft system.
Conclusion
DO-178C, ARP-4754A, and ARP-4761 are vital standards and guidelines in the development and certification of safety-critical software for airborne systems. DO-178C provides detailed requirements for software development and certification, while ARP-4754A and ARP-4761 provide overarching guidance for aircraft and system development and safety assessment.
The relationship between DO-178C and ARP-4754A/4761 ensures that the software is developed in accordance with the safety and reliability objectives of the overall aircraft system. Compliance with these standards and guidelines is crucial to ensure the safe and reliable operation of airborne systems and equipment, contributing to the overall safety of the aviation industry.
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Chapters
1. Airborne Standard Introduction
2. DO-178 Certification Process
3. DO-178C Tools & Trainings
4. Advanced DO-178C Topics
5. DO-178C Resources
6. Glossary
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