packet from Rational company. In China, the Blue Bird I System can
support Waterfall process model and structural analysis and design method
for software development. Its upgrade version Blue Bird II may support
object oriented analysis and design method.
Using these CASE tools reasonably and skillfully can dramatically
increase software productivity with high quality and low costs.
2. Application of Software Engineering in Aerospace Industry.
Software Engineering has achieved great progress in the last half century;
nevertheless, software crisis still exists. World-widely, 80 90% projects
in information field can’t reach their original target, 80% exceeds their
budgets, and around 40% projects failed at the end. Figures and Situations
in China are still worse
2
.
2.1. Software Management and Acceptance at NASA.
As the most
famous aerospace organization in the world, NASA started up its software
research works roughly 30 years ago. In 1976, Software Engineering
Laboratory (SEL) came into existence in Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSFC). Based on a series of research works, the laboratory has established
corresponding standards for software process and acceptance.
Based on the experiences from many years’ software projects, NASA
has summarized a conclusion: there is no single solution for all problems;
no any life cycle models, analysis and design methods, or test methods can
fit all NASA software projects. To satisfy different requirements, there must
be individual plan for each project. Therefore, NASA prompted its own
document “NASA software management guide” to manage and regulate
software development contract.
Generally speaking, aerospace software engineering has achieved
significant progresses in software quality, reliability, reusability within these
years. Many specialized CASE tools can provide integrated platform for
digitalized flight vehicle design and simulation, among which, ModelCenter
from Phoenix Integration company, iSight software packet by Engineous
Software company and AML of Techosoft company are some examples
of these CASE tools. Many leading aerospace companies are taking the
advantage of these tools to win more and more contracts relying on
effective and high quality designs created by them.
2.2. Domestic Applications of Software Engineering in Aerospace
Field.
The commencement of Software Engineering related works in China
has experienced several decades’ delay comparing to the world. In the past
10 20 years, progresses have been made and a set of national standards
have been established to standardize software engineering. But the software
industry still needs more time and efforts to catch up the world’s paces.
2
ISSN 0236-3941. Вестник МГТУ им. Н.Э. Баумана. Сер. “Машиностроение”. 2006. № 1 123
