From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: ** X-Spam-Status: No, score=2.6 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_40,INVALID_DATE, REPLYTO_WITHOUT_TO_CC autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,a08fb1edcbd73f50 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 115aec,a08fb1edcbd73f50 X-Google-Attributes: gid115aec,public X-Google-Thread: f43e6,2fba5a8c5be7a631 X-Google-Attributes: gidf43e6,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1994-09-13 01:33:16 PST Newsgroups: comp.software-eng,comp.realtime,comp.lang.ada Path: nntp.gmd.de!newsserver.jvnc.net!nntpserver.pppl.gov!princeton!gw1.att.com!news.bu.edu!olivea!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!swiss.ans.net!solaris.cc.vt.edu!news.duke.edu!MathWorks.Com!yeshua.marcam.com!zip.eecs.umich.edu!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!news1.oakland.edu!rcsuna.gmr.com!kocrsv01!c23dlt1 From: c23dlt1@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com (Dan Trump) Subject: Re: Safety-Critical Market -Size? Message-ID: <1994Sep12.155207.15252@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com> Originator: c23dlt1@koptsw19 Sender: news@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com (Usenet News Account) Nntp-Posting-Host: koptsw19 Reply-To: c23dlt1@kocrsv01 Organization: Delco Electronics Corp. References: <34ku24$pch@gazette.medtronic.COM> <34n5rg$1sm@news.ED.RAY.COM> <34q3qv$66p@rational.rational.com> Date: Mon, 12 Sep 1994 15:52:07 GMT Xref: nntp.gmd.de comp.software-eng:17620 comp.realtime:4816 comp.lang.ada:14644 Date: 1994-09-12T15:52:07+00:00 List-Id: In article , gcouger@master.ceat.okstate.edu (COUGER GORDON) writes: > In article <34q3qv$66p@rational.rational.com>, > Bob Kitzberger 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