The Software behind the Higgs Boson Discovery
In this column, David Rousseau describes the enormous software development effort associated with teasing out evidence for the elusive Higgs boson, a cornerstone of the Standard Model. In keeping with previous Impact columns, everything about this is huge but the application is unique.
Going Underground
Software for oil exploration and production has been a topic for software R&D for decades, and Shell is one of the main players. The role of such applications can't be underestimated. For example, what's the cost of a defect if you drill in the wrong place as a result of a software bug, knowing that without software you wouldn't have a clue where to start drilling? Shell, one of the largest companies in the world, is very specific about which software it wants to develop and which software it wants to buy elsewhere, even for a core competence like oil exploration and production.
The evolution of Flight Management Systems
In the 12 years since Flight Management Systems first became standard equipment on commercial aircraft, this category of avionic equipment has experienced exceptional growth in features and functionality. There have also been significant differences between the various "species" of systems that were developed for different aircraft and for different aircraft manufacturers. This paper explores the reasons for the differences and describes what the main differences are. It also describes the numerous evolutionary changes that have taken place in each family of systems. Finally, how this trend is expected to continue into the future is discussed.<<ETX>>