Seminars

Towards formal validation of aerospace systems PDF
Eric Feron, School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Inst. of Technology

9/13/2013, 1:30pm, GHC 6501

Abstract

Aerospace systems consist of a complex mix of hardware, human, and software components. The software components include guidance, control, diagnostics and display functions. The validation of the system as a whole requires extensive and costly simulation and flight testing. Formal validation, that is, the ability to establish that the system performs according to its functional specifications without recourse to flight test, holds the promise of significant savings and reduced development times. Beginning with a simple control system, we will discuss a constructive approach to formal system validation by leveraging control systems knowledge and inserting it within available formal analysis frameworks. We will then discuss its extension to include more complex aerospace functions and human elements.

Biography

Eric Feron is Dutton-Ducoffe Professor of Aerospace Software Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, and Consulting Professor at Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile. Prior to that, Eric Feron was a professor at MIT’s department of Aeronautics and Astronautics for 12 years. He holds his BS, MS and PhD degrees from Ecole Polytechnique, France, Ecole Normale Supérieure, France and Stanford University, USA. Eric Feron’s interests are to use fundamental concepts of control systems, optimization and computer science to address important problems in aerospace and transportation engineering, including: Air transportation, aerobatic control of unmanned aerial vehicles, aerospace software system certification, and human-machine interaction. Eric Feron has published two books and several research papers; He has been recognized for his work on autonomous aerobatic helicopter flight, human drowsiness and its impact on driver safety, and airport departure metering for “green” operations.

http://www.ae.gatech.edu/community/staff/bio/feron-e