Model Driven Architecture – An Industry Perspective

Abstract

Model Driven Architecture (MDA) is an initiative of the Object Management Group (OMG) to promote an enhanced system development process based on the clear separation of application logic from the underlying platform technology and to generate software automatically from platform independent models, rather than relying on traditional largely manual code development processes. The avionics industry has identified several areas in which the MDA approach can potentially drive down the rapidly inflating cost of software development and maintenance of the very complex and safety critical systems both those in development and those currently in-service. This paper discusses some of the research work that is currently being undertaken within the avionics industry and specifically in collaboration with Kennedy Carter Ltd.(Software Consultants) to investigate the use of MDA to address the inefficiencies in the process of delivering and certifying avionics software. The conclusion is that the MDA approach represents how future avionics systems will be built.