Performance specification methodology: introduction and application to displays

Darrel G. Hopper

doi:10.1117/12.321789

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14 September 1998 Performance specification methodology: introduction and application to displays

Darrel G. Hopper

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Proceedings Volume 3363, Cockpit Displays V: Displays for Defense Applications; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.321789
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing and Controls, 1998, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Acquisition reform is based on the notion that DoD must rely on the commercial marketplace insofar as possible rather than solely looking inward to a military marketplace to meet its needs. This reform forces a fundamental change in the way DoD conducts business, including a heavy reliance on private sector models of change. The key to more reliance on the commercial marketplace is the performance specifications (PS). This paper introduces some PS concepts and a PS classification principal to help bring some structure to the analysis of risk (cost, schedule, capability) in weapons system development and the management of opportunities for affordable ownership (maintain/increase capability via technology insertion, reduce cost) in this new paradigm. The DoD shift toward commercial components is nowhere better exemplified than in displays. Displays are the quintessential dual-use technology and are used herein to exemplify these PS concepts and principal. The advent of flat panel displays as a successful technology is setting off an epochal shift in cockpits and other military applications. Displays are installed in every DoD weapon system, and are, thus, representative of a range of technologies where issues and concerns throughout industry and government have been raised regarding the increased DoD reliance on the commercial marketplace. Performance specifications require metrics: the overall metrics of 'information-thrust' with units of Mb/s and 'specific info- thrust' with units of Mb/s/kg are introduced to analyze value of a display to the warfighter and affordability to the taxpayer.

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Darrel G. Hopper "Performance specification methodology: introduction and application to displays", Proc. SPIE 3363, Cockpit Displays V: Displays for Defense Applications, (14 September 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.321789

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