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At least 667 records · Page 37

Johnson Space Center software reuse activity

There is a strong operational interest in reuse and commonality at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). Although commonality and reuse were not emphasized in the Space Shuttle Orbiter Project, it is a major goal for Space Station Freedom and the Software Support Environment (SSE). Research activities at JSC are generally conducted through the Software Engineering Research Center (SERC) of the University of Houston at Clear Lake. The Life Cycle Model developed by SERC includes reuse at each phase, but reuse is not a principal theme. The SSE is a significant entry point for new reuse technology, and the SERC can provide consultation and possible prototypes. SERC is seen as an interface to other NISE reuse researchers. The AdaNET is managed at JSC through the University of Houston at Clear Lake for the NASA Office of Technology Utilization. It may also be a gateway for reuse research.

Gorman, Steve↗

Reuse research plans at Langley Research Center

The reuse activities at Langley have centered on the development of the Eli System by SPS. The development of a computer systems design environment at Langley was described as a target application for the future Eli system. This environment combines software development tools with an architecture design and analysis tool. Specifically, a Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) system, under development at Charles Stark Draper Laboratory for Langley, is being used to generate Ada code for use in architecture functional simulations using the Architecture Design and Assessment System (ADAS). The Eli system will be included in this tool set and will be used to organize and promote reuse of the functional simulation code modules.

Voigt, Susan J.↗

Evolution of Ada technology in the flight dynamics area: Implementation/testing phase analysis

An analysis is presented of the software engineering issues related to the use of Ada for the implementation and system testing phases of four Ada projects developed in the flight dynamics area. These projects reflect an evolving understanding of more effective use of Ada features. In addition, the testing methodology used on these projects has changed substantially from that used on previous FORTRAN projects.

Quimby, Kelvin L.↗

System testing of a production Ada (trademark) project: The GRODY study

The use of the Ada language and design methodologies that utilize its features has a strong impact on all phases of the software development project lifecycle. At the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC), the Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL) conducted an experiment in parallel development of two flight dynamics systems in FORTRAN and Ada. The teams found some qualitative differences between the system test phases of the two projects. Although planning for system testing and conducting of tests were not generally affected by the use of Ada, the solving of problems found in system testing was generally facilitated by Ada constructs and design methodology. Most problems found in system testing were not due to difficulty with the language or methodology but to lack of experience with the application.

Seigle, Jeffrey↗

Implementation of a production Ada project: The GRODY study

The use of the Ada language and design methodologies that encourage full use of its capabilities have a strong impact on all phases of the software development project life cycle. At the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC), the Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL) conducted an experiment in parallel development of two flight dynamics systems in FORTRAN and Ada. The differences observed during the implementation, unit testing, and integration phases of the two projects are described and the lessons learned during the implementation phase of the Ada development are outlined. Included are recommendations for future Ada development projects.

Godfrey, Sara↗

The making of the mechanical universe

The Mechanical Universe project required the production of over 550 different animated scenes, totaling about 7 and 1/2 hours of screen time. The project required the use of a wide range of techniques and motivated the development of several different software packages. A documentation is presented of many aspects of the project, encompassing artistic design issues, scientific simulations, software engineering, and video engineering.

Blinn, James↗

Knowledge-Based System for Flight Information Management

The use of knowledge-based system (KBS) architectures to manage information on the primary flight display (PFD) of commercial aircraft is described. The PFD information management strategy used tailored the information on the PFD to the tasks the pilot performed. The KBS design and implementation of the task-tailored PFD information management application is described. The knowledge acquisition and subsequent system design of a flight-phase-detection KBS is also described. The flight-phase output of this KBS was used as input to the task-tailored PFD information management KBS. The implementation and integration of this KBS with existing aircraft systems and the other KBS is described. The flight tests are examined of both KBS's, collectively called the Task-Tailored Flight Information Manager (TTFIM), which verified their implementation and integration, and validated the software engineering advantages of the KBS approach in an operational environment.

Ricks, Wendell R.↗

Establishing a measurement based maintenance improvement program - Lessons learned in the SEL

The Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL) is a joint venture between NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Maryland, and Computer Sciences Corporation. The use of a goal-oriented approach to measurement to establish a maintenance improvement program within the SEL is discussed. Differences are found to exist between the initial phase of the program and its routine application. This approach is demonstrated through concrete examples, and lessons learned in the establishment of a measurement based, maintenance improvement program are summarized.

Rombach, H. Dieter↗

A survey of fault diagnosis technology

Existing techniques and methodologies for fault diagnosis are surveyed. The techniques run the gamut from theoretical artificial intelligence work to conventional software engineering applications. They are shown to define a spectrum of implementation alternatives where tradeoffs determine their position on the spectrum. Various tradeoffs include execution time limitations and memory requirements of the algorithms as well as their effectiveness in addressing the fault diagnosis problem.

Riedesel, Joel↗

Expanding the domain of a prototype expert system with an eye on future maintenance - The FIESTA case study

The methods by which an expert system architecture can support such key elements of domain expansion and maintenance as knowledge acquisition, representation, addition, and modification, are presently illustrated by the Fault Isolation Expert System for TDRSS Applications (FIESTA). FIESTA highlights such similarities between conventional software engineering and expert system development as the benefits that accrue to loose coupling, modularity, and documentation. A major difference, however, is the set of opportunities afforded automated end-user maintenance by expert system technology.

Happell, Nadine↗

The FIFE information system

A description is given of the FIFE (First ISLSCP Field Experiment) information system, which was developed to serve FIFE investigators as a tool for designing the experiment and for organizing and manipulating the complex data set. Fulfilling these functions on an experiment-driven timeline led to abandoning the classical sequential development paradigm of software engineering in favor of a more responsive and broadly based approach. The design, development, and operation of the information system supporting the experiment had to be flexible and under direct day-to-day control of scientist/users. Because of the organization around scientific requirements, the system was able to incorporate diverse data types in a systematic way as they became available, to add scientific rigor by identifying data gaps at an early stage, and to provide real-time quality assurance. These factors are important for designing and building future databases and long-term information systems to support interdisciplinary scientific research.

Strebel, Donald E.↗

AdaNET executive summary

The goal of AdaNET is to transfer existing and emerging software engineering technology from the Federal government to the private sector. The views and perspectives of the current project participants on long and short term goals for AdaNET; organizational structure; resources and returns; summary of identified AdaNET services; and the summary of the organizational model currently under discussion are presented.

Digman, R. Michael↗

Operations management system

The objective of an operations management system is to provide an orderly and efficient method to operate and maintain aerospace vehicles. Concepts are described for an operations management system and the key technologies are highlighted which will be required if this capability is brought to fruition. Without this automation and decision aiding capability, the growing complexity of avionics will result in an unmanageable workload for the operator, ultimately threatening mission success or survivability of the aircraft or space system. The key technologies include expert system application to operational tasks such as replanning, equipment diagnostics and checkout, global system management, and advanced man machine interfaces. The economical development of operations management systems, which are largely software, will require advancements in other technological areas such as software engineering and computer hardware.

Brandli, A. E.↗

Proceedings of the 2nd NASA Ada User's Symposium

Several presentations, mostly in viewgraph form, on various topics relating to Ada applications are given. Topics covered include the use of Ada in NASA, Ada and the Space Station, the software support environment, Ada in the Software Engineering Laboratory, Ada at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Flight Telerobotic Servicer, and lessons learned in prototyping the Space Station Remote Manipulator System control.

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The next generation

The next generation of computer systems are studied by examining the processes and methodologies. The present generation is ok for small projects, but not so good for large projects. They are not good for addressing the iterative nature of requirements, resolution, and implementation. They do not address complexity issues of requirements stabilization. They do not explicitly address reuse opportunities, and they do not help with people shortages. Therefore, there is a need to define and automate improved software engineering processes. Some help may be gained by reuse and prototyping, which are two sides of the same coin. Reuse library parts are used to generate good approximations to desired solutions, i.e., prototypes. And rapid prototype composition implies use of preexistent parts, i.e., reusable parts.

Yudkin, Howard↗

Advanced automation in space shuttle mission control

The Real Time Data System (RTDS) Project was undertaken in 1987 to introduce new concepts and technologies for advanced automation into the Mission Control Center environment at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The project's emphasis is on producing advanced near-operational prototype systems that are developed using a rapid, interactive method and are used by flight controllers during actual Shuttle missions. In most cases the prototype applications have been of such quality and utility that they have been converted to production status. A key ingredient has been an integrated team of software engineers and flight controllers working together to quickly evolve the demonstration systems.

Heindel, Troy A.↗

Technology 2000, volume 1

The purpose of the conference was to increase awareness of existing NASA developed technologies that are available for immediate use in the development of new products and processes, and to lay the groundwork for the effective utilization of emerging technologies. There were sessions on the following: Computer technology and software engineering; Human factors engineering and life sciences; Information and data management; Material sciences; Manufacturing and fabrication technology; Power, energy, and control systems; Robotics; Sensors and measurement technology; Artificial intelligence; Environmental technology; Optics and communications; and Superconductivity.

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