The DO-254 Standard
The DO-254 standard provides a guide to the development of designs for complex electronic hardware in avionics. Complex electronic hardware includes devices such as FPGAs, PLDs, and ASICs. Any avionics related hardware must now abide to the DO-254 standard. The sections of the DO-254 specification addressed by the Aldec DO-254 Compliance Tool Set (CTS) are the Verification Process (Chapter 6.2) and the Tool Assessment and Qualification Process (Chapter 11.4).
Download Whitepaper!
The Challenge
Verifying FPGA, PLD, and ASIC designs in hardware, while tracing the output results back to the original design requirements, is a significant challenge with today’s DO-254 verification solutions. With HDL simulation, it is possible to comprehensively simulate the entire design with an exhaustive testbench. However, with traditional hardware testing it is difficult to achieve a similar level of verification. There is limited controllability of FPGA I/Os. It is very difficult to run the design in the target device, at the required operational speed. More importantly, appropriate hardware testing environment has to be created with a set of test cases that verify all requirements.
Aldec's Superior Approach to DO-254 Hardware Verification
Aldec
DO-254 CTS is a
superior alternative to traditional hardware verification methods. With Aldec’s solution, the RTL testbench achieving 100% functional coverage can be reused as test vectors for in-hardware testing of the target device at-speed. Having this capability alone can save substantial engineering time and development cost.
The RTL simulation output results (Golden Vectors) are compared with the In-Hardware simulation output results (Output Vectors). If any mismatches are found, they can be easily investigated using a graphical waveform viewer. In-hardware testing provides assurance that the design works in the target device just as it did during RTL simulation, with traceability of the hardware outputs back to the design requirements. The Aldec DO-254 CTS allows customers to manage their verification and tool assessment challenges with a powerful, easy-to-use solution.
