Avionics reliability-cost (ARC) trade-off model

The avionics reliability-cost (ARC) program is configured as a design aid for advanced technology avionics. It is intended to be used early in the design process to aid the designer in searching for cost-effective avionics implementations. The focus of the model is on technology advances promised by the next generation of integrated circuits typified by phase-one and, ultimately, phase-two VHSIC (very high-speed integrated circuits). The model is designed to allow the study of trade-offs involving all phases of life-cycle cost. ARC facilitates design-cost trade-off analysis by modeling interactions among selected device characteristics and packaging, environmental, and operational variables. ARC carefully models device power dissipation; module thermal loads; heat conductivity as a function of module size, heat sink, and material choices; and consequent device junction temperatures and failure rates. The same device and module characteristics that are used to deduce failure rates are used to estimate module costs through calibrated engineering buildup relationships. ARC runs interactively, allowing the user to create data sets, calculate, view, and print results, and save and edit old data sets as different parameter combinations are evaluated during a single ARC session. All actions are menu-driven, and context-sensitive help screens are provided to assist the new user