[SystemSafety] EUROCAE document 039/ ED-80

[Tom Ferrell]

This document, known as RTCA/DO-254 in the US, describes a set of
objectives, activities, and data requirements for design assurance to be
applied to airborne electronic hardware.  It's application has had a
very tumultuous history.  The initial hole that the document was
intended to fill was to provide a mechanism for design assurance of
ASICs and simple PLDs.  The committee ultimately decided that something
was needed to address all airborne hardware from the box to the circuit
card to the custom device level.  When published in 2000, this broader
scope proved controversial.  The FAA ultimately recognized its use in
2005 specifically for 'custom micro-coded devices.'  EASA has adopted
the broader scope but only requires level D (lowest) design assurance
for circuit cards even in level A equipment.  EASA requires the higher
levels of assurance expressly required for micro-coded devices, which
today are primarily FPGAs, SOCs, and COTS microprocessors.  Although a
bit of an oversimplification, you can think of this document as being
parallel to DO-178C/ED-12C (software design assurance), both of which
are subordinate to SAE ARP-4754A which covers system design assurance
and the system safety process for the airborne community.  As I
understand it, you have to look at all three of these documents in the
aggregate to draw a proper parallel with IEC 61508.  BTW, I should note
that it appears DO-254/ED-80 is likely to open up for revision very
soon, possibly prior to year end.

-----Original Message-----
From: systemsafety-bounces at lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
[mailto:systemsafety-bounces at lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de] On Behalf
Of Amund Westin
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 11:07 AM
To: systemsafety at lists.techfak.uni-bielefeld.de
Subject: [SystemSafety] EUROCAE document 039/ ED-80

The EUROCAE document 039/ ED-80 "Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne
Electronic hardware" ... is it in some way the "61508" for the airborne
guys?

Best regards
Amund



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