Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Software and systems engineering group CS Communication &amp; Systems has announced a set of tools and processes&nbsp;aimed at supporting developers of unmanned aircraft systems and eVTOL aircraft with testing and certification tasks. In particular, the&nbsp;company is looking to help the developers to complete the joint RTCA/Eurocae Do-178C process for approving software for airborne systems and equipment. 
During this week’s AUVSI conference, CS introduced the Automated Test Language Artifacts and Scenarios (ATLAS) platform. This uses machine learning to determine the requirements for software and develop so-called behavior-driven design (BDD) scenarios to form the basis for test procedures. According to the company, ATLAS accelerates and simplifies the test process by creating the BDD scenarios and requirement-based functional tests in less than one minute for each requirement. 
For larger applications, CS is offering a new air data scripter to support software testing. The tool receives and pre-processes data coming from flight and systems tests in an approach that it claims will reduce the duration of tests by at least 25 percent. The process involves converting the pre-processed data in scripts that can be run on proprietary platforms as embedded code.
To support clients’ efforts to complete the Do-178C certification process, CS has devised a questionnaire that helps them to establish the current state of their software. Based on this, and the required safety level that needs to be reached, it offers a tool to automatically identify any gaps, generate a compliance score to assess progress towards certification, and suggest a path to complete the process. The tool also provides pre-filled templates to capture all the required supporting documentation.
Finally, CS introduced its Leading Edge Automation for Functional Safety system to support continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) software development for automated systems. The tool is intended to integrate all phases of software development, supporting the management of requirements and remote access teams for programs.
According to CS, its new systems will reduce the cost and time expended in developing software for aircraft, while also supporting compliance with safety requirements. The company says it has worked on UAS/eVTOL programs for Airbus and engine maker Pratt &amp; Whitney, as well as Triumph, which is one of the partners for the Jaunt Air Mobility eVTOL program. It has offices in East Hartford, Connecticut, Montreal in Canada and Toulouse, France.
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Charles Alcock

The CS Group is offering software engineering and certification support to eVTOL aircraft developers, such as Airbus, which is still flight testing its CityAirbus technology demonstrator. [Photo: Airbus]

CS Group Offers New Tools to Support Aircraft Software Testing and Certification

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