PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This document contains the requirements specification for an Avionics Computer Resource (ACR). The ACR provides shared computation resources, core software and signal conditioning necessary to interface with a variety of aircraft systems. The ACR provides a highly adaptable computer environment for a variety of software applications. By complying with the requirements specified by this specification the ACR and the software applications may be independently developed. Together the ACR and installed software applications perform one or more aircraft functions.

The aircraft functions can be hosted on multiple ACR platforms that can be provided by multiple vendors. Compliance with this requirements specification ensures a complete specification of the Application Programming Interface (API) provided by the ACR, its capacity and capability, and its performance. Based on this ACR specification, application software may be independently developed.

The document is intended to assist manufacturers, software application developers and installers in achieving an ACR and installed software applications which perform their intended functions satisfactorily under all conditions normally encountered in routine aeronautical operations.

This document stipulates that the ACR manufacturer provides a suite of tests and analyses to assure the operation, performance and capacity of the ACR. Although specific test procedures are not included, assurance objectives are established for each ACR attribute.

In developing an ACR as specified by the requirements in this requirement specification, the ACR manufacturer is required to specify the development environment required only to develop the ACR. Whether the ACR manufacturer specifies, recommends, or supplies a development environment for application software developers is a decision between the ACR manufacturer and prospective software application developers, and should be documented as part of the software application approval process rather than under this specification. The ACR manufacturer is also obligated to specify the integration and configuration tools and environment necessary such that requirements for the addition or deletion of applications to the ACR will be adhered to at the time they are integrated.