HACT Autocode Software Development Approach

This paper discusses the Helicopter Active Control Technology (HACT) program’s use of autocode in its software development. The Boeing Company and the U.S. Army are using this program to demonstrate the benefits of advanced flight control technologies. The flight demonstrator is an AH-64D Apache helicopter whose mechanical flight controls system (FCS) has been replaced with a baseline digital fly by wire system done under another program. The system description, design, generation, integration and testing methodologies of the HACT software are described. Potential benefits and hazards of the approach are also presented.