Real-Time Verification of GPU-Produced Images and Information
DO-178C safety-certifiable real-time cockpit display image integrity diagnostic test tool
Image integrity monitoring is a mechanism used to independently check that any image produced from a complex programmable graphics processing unit (GPU) can be considered correct and consistent with the intended image output.
Rapidly evolving graphics display generation technology from the commercial PC industry provides low cost and exceptionally powerful solutions for implementing ever more capable and complex display systems. As GPUs become increasingly complex, so does the associated driver and application code required to render an image on the screen.
This growing code size and complexity is problematic. The FAA and other international certification authorities mandate that software be designed and tested to the DO-178C guidelines for flight critical airborne equipment in order to be certified for use in aircraft systems.
The Ideal Solution to Spiraling Certification Costs
DO-178 certification requires that the software used to render flight critical data undergo exhaustive and carefully documented testing and verification procedures that are prohibitively expensive.
Further complicating the certification process is the fact that the low cost, high performance GPU from the PC industry does not have design history and verification data available from the manufacturer. It has neither sufficient support data nor has testing been done by the manufacturer to demonstrate operational reliability and design integrity. This makes DO-254 certification of the hardware impossible.
Complete and Accurate Data Rendering for Safety-Critical Applications
Mercury has extensive experience developing DO-178C DAL-A certifiable image integrity monitoring functions suitable for real-time verification of the GPU in the Cockpit Display System and ensuring that it is accurately rendering flight critical information for critical applications (e.g. Primary Flight Display) in the correct screen location, color, intensity and source data value.
This approach minimizes the level of DO-254 data for the GPU allowing the GPU driver and rendering software to be certified to a reduced Design Assurance Level, typically DAL-C.
PROVEN ENGINEERING
Accelerate Subsystem Development
Streamline safety-critical system development and the certification process with DO-254 / DO-178 design assurance checklists, guided assessments, and hardware and software artifacts.
DEPENDABILITY
Mitigate Deployment Risk with Proven Experience
We employ cutting-edge commercial technologies and unique processes borne from a wealth of in-house expertise, garnered on over 300 programs, to develop and manufacture solutions to meet your application's demanding conditions.