A new method for hardware/software integration of strategic systems Case study for the Space Shuttle

A new method for ground testing a complex avionics system in an integrated manner has been developed. A case study for the Space Shuttle, on which the concept has been successfully implemented, is described here. This approach utilizes the actual hardware and software of the vehicle to perform a realistic simulation of its mission, verifying in the process all the critical interfaces and interactions of the software with the hardware. The advantages over current testing techniques are discussed, as well as the extension of the concept to other strategic systems.