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Hardware Design Review

Section 09: Hardware Certification (DO-254)

Definition

A structured evaluation of hardware design data by qualified reviewers to assess correctness, completeness, compliance with requirements, and conformance to applicable standards. Reviews are applied throughout the DO-254 lifecycle to requirements, conceptual design, detailed design, implementation data, and verification results.

Where This Shows Up

Reviews serve as both a verification method and a process assurance mechanism in DO-254. They complement testing, simulation, and analysis by providing human assessment of design quality and completeness. Key reviews include requirements review, design review (preliminary and detailed/critical), implementation review (e.g., schematic review, HDL code review, layout review), and test readiness review. Independence requirements for reviews increase with DAL; at DAL A, review independence from the designer is required.

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Primary Sources

RTCA DO-254 / EUROCAE ED-80

Section 6.1, Verification Process, identifies review and analysis as verification methods alongside testing and simulation.

Related Terms

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