Applying use case driven UML-based comet method for autonomous flight management on IMA platform

Within the research activities of the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA), we have experimented with the adoption of modern Software (SW) engineering methodologies. Modeling languages such as Systems Modeling Language (SysML) and Unified Modeling Language (UML) were used to develop highly complex and innovative SW applications dedicated to autonomous flight management for Unmanned Air Systems (UAS). The goal of CIRA was to implement an Autonomy Management (AM) System prototype based on Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA). The hosted SW modules, a Flight Management System (FMS) and Health Management System (HMS), were closely interconnected and interacted with several external actors in order to allow the UAS target to execute the mission independently and correctly. This white paper illustrates the main activities performed and results obtained when applying the Collaborative Object Modeling and Architectural Design Method (COMET) of H. Gomaa to carry out the black-box analysis of FMS and HMS software applications and also SW emulators needed for conducting tests.