The SAE Avionics Architecture Description Language (AADL) Standard: A Basis for Model-Based Architecture-Driven Embedded Systems Engineering
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
Topic or Tag
Abstract
Architecture Description Languages provide significant opportunity for the incorporation of formal methods and engineering models into the analysis of software and system architectures. A standard is being developed for embedded real-time safety critical systems which will support the use of various formal approaches to analyze the impact of the composition of systems from hardware and software and which will allow the generation of system glue code with the performance qualities predicted. The standard, the Avionics Architecture Description Language (AADL), is based on the MetaH language developed under DARPA and US Army funding and on the model driven architectural based approach demonstrated with this technology over the last 12 years. The AADL standard will include a UML profile useful for avionics, space, automotive, robotics and other real-time concurrent processing domains including safety critical applications.
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Architecture Analysis & Design Language (AADL): SEI Resources
Cite This SEI Report
Feiler, P., & Vestal, S. (2003, May 1). The SAE Avionics Architecture Description Language (AADL) Standard: A Basis for Model-Based Architecture-Driven Embedded Systems Engineering. Retrieved September 17, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/the-sae-avionics-architecture-description-language-aadl-standard-a-basis-for-model-based-architecture-driven-embedded-systems-engineering/.
@techreport{feiler_2003,
author={Feiler, Peter and Vestal, Steve},
title={The SAE Avionics Architecture Description Language (AADL) Standard: A Basis for Model-Based Architecture-Driven Embedded Systems Engineering},
month={May},
year={2003},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/the-sae-avionics-architecture-description-language-aadl-standard-a-basis-for-model-based-architecture-driven-embedded-systems-engineering/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-17}
}
Feiler, Peter, and Steve Vestal. "The SAE Avionics Architecture Description Language (AADL) Standard: A Basis for Model-Based Architecture-Driven Embedded Systems Engineering." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, May 1, 2003. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/the-sae-avionics-architecture-description-language-aadl-standard-a-basis-for-model-based-architecture-driven-embedded-systems-engineering/.
P. Feiler, and S. Vestal, "The SAE Avionics Architecture Description Language (AADL) Standard: A Basis for Model-Based Architecture-Driven Embedded Systems Engineering," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 1-May-2003 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/the-sae-avionics-architecture-description-language-aadl-standard-a-basis-for-model-based-architecture-driven-embedded-systems-engineering/. [Accessed: 17-Sep-2026].
Feiler, Peter, and Steve Vestal. "The SAE Avionics Architecture Description Language (AADL) Standard: A Basis for Model-Based Architecture-Driven Embedded Systems Engineering." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 May. 2003. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/the-sae-avionics-architecture-description-language-aadl-standard-a-basis-for-model-based-architecture-driven-embedded-systems-engineering/. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.
Feiler, Peter; & Vestal, Steve. The SAE Avionics Architecture Description Language (AADL) Standard: A Basis for Model-Based Architecture-Driven Embedded Systems Engineering. Software Engineering Institute. 2003. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/the-sae-avionics-architecture-description-language-aadl-standard-a-basis-for-model-based-architecture-driven-embedded-systems-engineering/