Re: Safety-Critical Market -Size?

[c23dlt1@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com (Dan Trump)]

In article <CvxMzB.vq@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu>, gcouger@master.ceat.okstate.edu (COUGER GORDON) writes:
> In article <34q3qv$66p@rational.rational.com>,
> Bob Kitzberger <rlk@rational.com> wrote:
> >Fred Ross-Perry (fredrp@tif527.ed.ray.com) wrote:
> >: : Curtis May (curtism@netcom.com) wrote:
> >: : > Hello All,
> >
> >: : > I am interested in information regarding the size of the safety-critical
> >: : > software market, particulary in the United States (although global 
> >: : > information would be helpful as well). Any relevant information along 
> >: : > with the source of the information would be highly appreciated.
> 
> The automotive, trucking, farm and industrial equepment are the biggest
> users of computer cpu's and they all are safety-critical. Most of the code
> is written by indivugals and I don't know of any software being marketed.
> It would be a good place for real time kernels but the rest of the software
> is pretty device specfic. I think.
> Gordon

I don't know about farm or industrial equipment, but most every automotive
and trucking safety-critical system to which we, Delco Electronics,
contribute (engine controllers, anti-lock brake controllers, transmission 
controllers, etc) falls into one of two catagories.

One approach is to produce the entire system as a single integrated unit.
That means that the automotive manufacturer specifies the hardware and 
software components of the systems and ultimately gets a working system
from the parts manufacturer which they then install in the car/truck.

The other approach is to provide the hardware part of the system and the
auto/truck manufacturer then does the software in-house. 

The fact that the software is safety-critical leads, I believe, to a concern
about legal liability on the part of the automotive/truck manufacturer. For
that reason, the manufacturers are *extremely* sensitive about how well the
software works. Another issue is that of the software frequently being the
key to a competitive advantage. General Motors seems to prefer to keep the
expertise for such systems in-house, rather than relying on some other 
company for their future survival. 

Whatever the reason or reasons, the automotive manufacturer maintains tight 
control over the software. I don't know of a single case where just the 
software for a safety-critical controller has been contracted to an outside 
vendor. It may have happened, but there doesn't seem to be much of a market 
for safety critical software by itself in this part of the industry. 

Please note that this is an observation from a lowly working grunt at the
bottom of the organization. I don't pretend to speak with any authority
for my employer (Delco Electronics) or for DE's owners (General Motors).
Just my $0.02.   

> 
> Gordon Couger senior software specialist
>    Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering. 114 AG Hall Stillwater, OK 74075
>    gcouger@olesun.agen.okstate.edu 405 744 9763 day 625-2855 evenings
> 












-- 
Dan Trump  V: (317) 451-0503  GM: 8-322-0503   c23dlt1@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com 
Delco Electronics Corp            (* Software Engineer - Not a DE spokesman *) 
"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara desert, within five
years there would be a shortage of sand" - Milton Friedman