Actel and Aldec to offer two integrated solutions designed for Actel’s FPGAs in high-reliability avionics and aerospace applications. With the hardware/software verification package to ease DO-254 certification, the two companies are alleviating the verification bottleneck in the design assurance process. In addition, Aldec and Actel are unveiling a flash-based prototyping solution for Actel’s space-optimized RTAX-S FPGAs, allowing aerospace customers to tap the flexibility and reprogrammability of flash-based prototypes for multiple aerospace applications.

DO-254 Verification Solution

Adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration, the DO-254/EU80 (Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware) specification provides design assurance guidance for the development of “safe” airborne electronic hardware, including FPGA designs intended for flight use. Aldec’s hardware/software verification platform includes software tools to capture and compare simulation data with a golden set of vectors as well as a customized board for the functional verification phase of the DO-254 compliance process.

RTAX-S Prototyping Solution

Aldec’s RTAX-S prototyping solution allows customers to use Actel’s flash-based reprogrammable ProASIC3/E devices. Currently, RTAX-S prototyping is achieved using a commercial one-time programmable antifuse-based FPGA. Because several of these devices may be needed to validate a flight-unit design during prototyping, the availability of a reprogrammable solution allows for a much more cost-effective strategy. Further, the use of this new tool allows rapid reconfiguration of development platforms for space-flight computing, permitting faster integration and co-development of hardware and software. As part of the solution, a prototyping adaptor is provided, which maps the footprint of Actel’s ProASIC3/E device to the footprint of an RTAX-S device. Customers can therefore use the reprogrammable prototyping tool without altering the layout of their space-flight printed circuit board (PCB).

Availability

The complete prototyping solution includes an adaptor board, programming kits and the hardware and software tools needed for design conversion, mixed VHDL and Verilog simulation, mapping and programming. Pricing is dependent on the target RTAX-S device and package. The first board will be available December 2006. Pricing for the DO-254 hardware/software verification solution is determined by the device, features needed (customization) and amount of support required to obtain certification.