Automatic alert code and test generation system

The MD-11 aircraft alerting function (AAF) software system was developed with the customer as the aircraft systems expert and the avionics supplier responsible for designing, implementing, testing and maintaining the software. Due to the complexity of the MD-11, frequent changes in alert logic were anticipated, forming a volatile development environment. In spite of these obstacles, a cost-effective method for developing the AAF software was devised and implemented. The authors address the following topics: how the MD-11 AAF operates; how the MD-11 AAF provides a cost-effective and timely method of allowing the customer to design each alert, make flight test changes, and maintain the alert data base; and how the MD-11 AAF allows the avionics supplier to easily verify and validate the alert logic using automatically generated test cases.<>