Data-Based Paradigm for Rapid Development of Advanced Avionics Displays

Other industries based on advanced, high-performance graphics that must be portable across different platforms have evolved better methods for tackling their HMI and graphic rendering requirements. Video games almost exclusively rely on model-based development techniques for specifying and rendering graphics. A set of standard model formats, such as those output from 3D modeling tools including 3D Studio Max and Maya, are available as the medium of exchange between the modeling tool and the runtime software. Graphical objects are never represented by handwritten code, but rather as a database conforming to a model specification. A software platform, typically referred to as a game engine, is written to ingest and present the models in real time on the target system. Game engines also support scripted models to allow non-programmers to create a large percentage of the visual content. Without using code generators, game engines support high-performance graphical content on resource-constrained embedded systems, such as cell phones. Because games share many of the same requirements as high-performance embedded systems, it is worthwhile to consider their development paradigm for embedded systems.

Model-Based Development

All HMIs implement some requirement that specifies the data and functions the HMI must perform. More often than not, the details are left to the HMI developer, who may be a software engineer, a systems engineer, or a human-interface specialist. A key step is refining the high-level requirements into detailed requirements that capture the expected behavior of the system. A model-based development tool suite may be used to allow a system designer to define the HMI and its behaviors. This tool suite should support a WYSI-WYG editing capability with graphical and logical modeling capabilities. Ideally, the tool would provide real-time feedback of the data dynamics and would allow the HMI developer to validate the dynamics of the system as the model is developed.