MALIK UMER BLOG

When developing software for safety-critical systems, whether in aerospace, automotive, medical, or industrial domains, engineers must ensure compliance with rigorous international standards such as DO-178C, ISO 26262, IEC 61508, and IEC 62304. Meeting these standards requires a high level of assurance in both software design and process maturity. To streamline development and accelerate certification, many organizations turn to pre-qualified software frameworks. These frameworks are purpose-built or previously validated to align with specific safety standards, significantly reducing certification costs and risks. They are often accompanied by certification kits containing safety plans, test evidence, traceability data, and tool qualification artifacts that fit into a project’s overall safety case. In this blog post, i will review and list few of the popular safety-certifiable / pre-qualified software frameworks commonly used in safety-critical systems.

Safety-critical systems are those whose failure can result in severe harm to people, property, or the environment. As such, their development necessitates adherence to stringent engineering practices and compliance with rigorous regulatory standards, such as DO-178C (aerospace), ISO 26262 (automotive), IEC 61508 (industrial), and IEC 62304 (medical devices). These systems are predominantly found in domains such as aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and industrial automation. They typically follow structured and plan-driven development lifecycles, most often based on the V-model. Development in this context is characterized by comprehensive documentation, multiple big teams, thorough verification and validation, and extended release cycles to manage complexity and ensure safety assurance. Meanwhile, Agile methodologies have gained widespread acceptance across many areas of software development, offering benefits such as increased adaptability, faster feedback loops, and enhanced stakeho...

  Scrum promotes transparency, inspection, and adaptation by focusing on continuous improvement, requirements flexibility, user involvement, and delivering quality products. Scrum aligns with the values and principles of the Agile Manifesto, which gives importance to people, communication, the product, and flexibility.  Successful use of Scrum depends on the team becoming more proficient in practicing the values of c ommitment, focus, openness, respect, and courage. This post outlines the main principles of the scrum project management method.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize industries, its impact on cybersecurity is equally important. While AI can be used to enhance security measures, it can also introduce new kinds of threats. AI influences cybersecurity in 3 dimensions: enhancing cybersecurity through the use of AI s uch as detecting threats and identifying anomalies, exploitation of   AI by cyber criminals to launch more sophisticated and targeted attacks, and s ecuring AI systems / models   by protecting the privacy and security  of data that is used to train and power AI algorithms.  In this blog post, we’ll explore how AI is transforming cybersecurity, the opportunities it presents, and the challenges it brings.

Generative AI is transforming the landscape of software development by automating coding tasks, improving software quality, and enhancing developer productivity. With advancements in Large Language Models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT, Google’s Gemini, and Meta’s Llama, Generative AI is proving to be a game-changer in how software is written, debugged, tested, and maintained. Software developers and tech companies must stay abreast with the current trends in AI technology and incorporate AI tools in their environment to stay competitive, stable and profitable. In this blog post, we explore the key applications of Generative AI in software development, the benefits it brings, and how developers can leverage this technology to streamline their workflows.

I joined College of Aeronautical Engineering, NUST, Pakistan in November 2001 to pursue Bachelor of Avionics Engineering degree, which i completed in October 2005 with a GPA of 3.42.  Now after many years when i reflect upon my experience in college, i can recall few strategies which helped me to make the best of my college time. Remember that college is the most important part of your academic career and your whole professional life ahead may be influenced by how you utilize your time in college. Although the guidelines specified below may seem very ideal, but trust me, adopting these practices will change your life and your professional career. Successful people have the habit of working hard consistently with determination and not just focus on performing well in one exam. Succeeding in college requires a mix of academic, personal, and professional strategies. Here are some detailed tips to help you excel in your college degree: 1. Develop a Strong Academic Foundation Attend Cla...

The relationship between regulatory policies and innovation in technology is complex and can vary depending on the nature of the regulation, the industry, and the specific technology in question. S ome people argue that regulations hinder innovation by introducing extra costs and constraints to the business, others believe that well-crafted regulations can actually drive innovation by establishing standards, improving product quality, promoting competition and enforcing ethical practices. P olicy makers must meticulously craft regulations that provide a good trade-off between the need for social and environmental protection and the goal of promoting innovation and competitiveness. Here’s an overview of how regulatory policies can both hinder and foster innovation:

DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has been a driving force behind many groundbreaking innovations that have profoundly impacted technology, science, and everyday life. Here are some of the most notable innovations initially funded or started by DARPA:

In the context of programming languages, safety refers to design features of the language that prevent or reduce the likelihood of  undefined behavior  during execution of a program  due to  programming errors . It means that a "safe" language enforces rules that help developers avoid common mistakes, making programs more robust, predictable, and secure. The programming language which guarantees some level of safety allows you to focus on implementing your core logic rather than spending time on testing and refactoring to make your code safe. The safe languages ensures that programming errors (not logic errors) are trapped or avoided and the software crashes or throws an exception when it occurs.

The success or failure of a software application may be defined by it's  User Interface (UI)  design. A mobile application with a non-intuitive UI design may be abandoned or uninstalled by the user after first impression resulting in loss of business to the company. In the domain of safety-critical applications such as healthcare or transportation, poorly incorporated UI design may result in erroneous selection of input by the user, which may have catastrophic effects. In general, poor UI design can lead to frustration, confusion, and inefficiency for users. "People ignore design that ignores people.” (Frank Chimero) Scientists and researchers have studied and defined the principles and practices to improve the usability of interactive applications. Big tech companies have translated those general set of principles / heuristics to domain specific UI design guidelines. The main objective of UI design is to create a positive first impression and attracting or retaining customers...

The concept of conscious machines is a fascinating and controversial topic that lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), neuroscience, philosophy, and ethics. It explores the idea of machines not only performing tasks or mimicking human behavior but also possessing consciousness—an awareness of themselves and their surroundings. The concept of conscious machines is still speculative and futuristic, which is beyond current technological capabilities and delves into the realms of philosophy and science fiction. Definition of Consciousness Consciousness in Humans: Consciousness is typically defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's own existence, thoughts, and environment. It involves subjective experiences, self-awareness, and the ability to reflect on these experiences. Consciousness in Machines: When discussing conscious machines, question is whether a machine or AI system could ever have a subjective experience, self-awareness, or the a...

Several commercially available humanoid robots have gained popularity for various applications, ranging from research and education to personal assistance and entertainment. Humanoid robots are no longer a sci-fi fantasy, they are now a reality and may soon become ubiquitous considering the exponential rate of the progress in AI. Some of the popular humanoid robots in use around the world today are listed below. 1. Pepper (SoftBank Robotics) Pepper by SoftBank Robotics is commonly deployed in retail and hospitality industry  (e.g., in banks, stores, and hotels)  for social interaction, customer service, and education. It c an recognize faces and basic emotions, interact through voice, gestures, and touch, and is widely used in businesses for customer-facing roles.   2. Nao (SoftBank Robotics) Nao by SoftBank Robotics is primarily used in schools and universities for teaching robotics and programming. It is a smaller humanoid robot known for its advanced interaction c...