Software Engineering Institute

This report describes a model problem to support research in large-scale assurance. In this report, the model problem is illustrated using a scenario that involves an emergency response agency on a humanitarian mission that must be carried out autonomously by an unmanned aerial vehicle to deliver life-saving supplies in a disaster zone. In addition to describing this mission, we describe the architecture of the system used to accomplish the mission and a number of assurance issues that should be addressed. Although the model problem is based on this particular scenario, it represents use in other domains where the same assurance issues can be present. The model problem we present in this report can be used not only to drive the research in this area of assurance but also to demonstrate possible solutions.