The aerospace industry faces system design challenges posed by the use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics items in aerospace vehicles. Designers in both commercial and military segments of the aerospace market are increasingly dependent on COTS components, sub-assemblies, and in some cases even systems.
The COTS electronics industry is characterized by relentless market pressure to increasingly expand and improve functions, reduce costs, and reduce design and development time. As a result, product development is driven by forces that often are not in the best interests of aerospace users of COTS products. The aerospace industry is such a small part of the COTS market that it is difficult to counter these forces.
Evaluating challenges posed by the use of COTS electronics items and mitigating their effects is a continuing topic of AVSI research.
