A reliability simulation method for on-board computer

As a high reliable equipment, on-board computer often has difficulties to evaluate its reliability. The paper put forward a simulation method to compute on-board computer's reliability. The method uses a forced transition (FT) based reliability simulation model to deal with the on-board computers that have complex structure and diversiform characteristic parameters. The model is particularly suitable for the on-board computers which are composed of the components whose failure processes obey tub life curve. As an example, a prototype on-board computer was put forward and simulated using the model. The presented reliability simulation model can be adopted for the on-board computer probability risk assessment where analytic methods or exact solutions cannot be easily reached.