Metrics for Integrated Modular Avionics Architecture

Abstract: Integrated modular avionics (IMA) architecture is an emerging concept in the military aerospace industry after being successfully implemented in the commercial domain. The highly modular architecture allows multiple aviation applications to execute on the same hardware thanks to defined standards by Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC). System architects are responsible for designing and taking advantage of the IMA architecture to meet the requirements set by the stakeholders. They rely much on experience, system knowledge, and design patterns in their work. This thesis aims to find relevant metrics for system architects when developing IMA architecture in the aerospace industry. A metric survey, with focus on the aerospace and closely related industries, is conducted and broadened to include software and real-time metrics. To find one to three metrics multiple presentations and screenings are held together with a team of domain experts. Three metrics are selected: structural complexity using Shannon’s entropy, instability and abstractness metric, and complexity and coupling metric. The metrics are described in detail and implemented. A small scale system is created to assist and provide better understanding how and what the metrics are measuring. Whether the selected metrics are employable for system architects in aerospace industry still remains to be empirically validated. A proposed validation process is presented for future work.