Using rapid prototypes for early requirements validation

Using rapid prototypes for early validation can accelerate product development in all phases of the development life cycle. The most obvious benefit is the ability to evaluate requirements for applicability and unanticipated errors early in the development life cycle. However, additional benefits can also be realized during the follow-on phases of the development life cycle. These benefits are often not considered as a part of the planning and decision making process regarding systems modeling tools. During the development of the 777 Autopilot Flight Director System (AFDS), system engineers at Collins Air Transport Division (CATD) evaluated both a conventional approach and a rapid prototyping approach in the development of two complex system functions. The lessons learned from this exercise could significantly change the way CATD system engineering teams approach system development in future projects