Software System Safety

What is it?

The application of rigorous methods and analyses to the software that controls hardware hazards. It typically requires application of system engineering, software engineering, and safety engineering principles, and brings the different engineering disciplines together to focus on how software affects the safety of the system. Software System Safety defines the safety requirements for software developers and assures the implementation and compliance with those requirements.

APT's 15-Step Process: A Proven Software Safety Process

This process has been successfully applied to major DoD programs and is currently implemented on the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program. This process includes the following steps:

Identify Hazards
Identify Software Safety Functional Requirements
Define Malfunction Modes
Analyze Hazards for Life Cycle
Define Safety Critical Software
Define HW/SW Control Measures
Verify Design Meets Requirements
Integrate SW Effects in Hazard Analyses
Refine Hazard Severity
Tailor Safety Effort to Criticality
Define Test for Critical Functions
Prepare V&V Test Plan
V&V Testing
Review V&V Results
Determine Final RACs

Capabilities

Plan/implement software system safety programs
Perform and evaluate hazard analyses
Secretariat for software system safety working groups
Perform independent software safety assessments
Plan/implement software safety metrics program
Conduct software system safety training

Accomplishments

Identified safety critical software functions & requirements
Performed independent software safety assessments
Performed/analyzed hazard tracking data
Performed software safety analysis
Prepared software safety metrics plan
Implemented software safety metrics program

Customers

Lockheed
iRobot
AMRDEC-SED
- NLOS-LS
- WAH-64
- Gladiator
- ABV
- CH-47
- Kiowa Warrior
- JLENS
- FCS UAS
Textrom
United Space Alliance

Download the Software System Safety Brochure.

Rhonda Barnes 256.327.4006
rbarnes@apt-research.com