Use of multicore processors in avionics systems and its potential impact on implementation and certification

Abstract

With the wide availability of multiple core (multicore) processors, their reduced space, weight and power (SWaP) properties make them extremely attractive for use in Avionics systems. In order to implement a solution on a multicore platform, the developer will be confronted with numerous implementation and certification issues that are not present in unicore or discrete multiple processor implementations. These issues involve both hardware and software aspects of certification and the interoperation of the two. This paper will provide guidance to the developer on the issues that must be addressed from both a hardware and software aspect in order to understand the potential and limitations of multicore solutions.