Digital aviation systems designers are being asked to provide more sophisticated autonomous and semi-autonomous features for aerospace systems including general aviation and UAS much like automotive AV/ADAS (Autonomous Vehicle/Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) is challenging automotive embedded systems. Traditionally many of these systems have been modular AMP (Asymmetric Multi-Processing) systems that run simpler cyclic executives for hard real-time mission critical computation with clear separation via standardized interfaces from core flight control and management to less critical planning and convenience features. New features may range from soft real-time or interactive assistant features that enhance flight optimization and planning to the more traditional mission critical flight control systems. The drive to integrate assistant and autonomous features is a combined opportunity and challenge for embedded system hardware, firmware, and software systems engineering.
This tutorial will introduce you to the challenges, opportunities and the latest hardware, firmware and software tools and practices. It includes emergent methods for parallel software development for real-time systems. You will emerge with a fundamental understanding of concepts and theory, both proven, and more emergent to consider for future projects. You will gain a clear review and understanding of traditional rate monotonic, provably safe, systems design as well as emerging methods to integrate new assistant, optimization, and autonomy features.
