Case Study: Airbus Helicopters achieves faster DO-178B-certified flight software development with MathWorks Model-Based Design (Simulink & Embedded Coder)

Airbus Helicopters Accelerates Development of DO-178B Certified Software with Model-Based Design

Airbus Helicopters needed to accelerate development and reduce late-stage specification errors while building DO-178B–certified flight software for the EC130 air‑conditioning system. To stabilize requirements early and speed verification, Airbus Helicopters adopted MathWorks Model‑Based Design using Simulink along with Embedded Coder, Simulink Check, and Simulink Coverage.

Using MathWorks tools, Airbus Helicopters modeled system and software designs in Simulink, validated and reused tests, checked modeling compliance with Simulink Check, measured coverage with Simulink Coverage, and generated C flight code with Embedded Coder. The MathWorks-based workflow cut software testing time by about two‑thirds, enabled requirements to be frozen much earlier (up to roughly a year sooner), and produced DO‑178B DAL C certified flight software now in production on EC130 helicopters.

Airbus

Ronald Blanrue

Avionic Certification Specialist