ABSTRACT
Expanding the use of preexisting hardware and software items for new products offers owners and developers opportunities for reduced development cycle times, faster cycle time for new technology, potentially lower LCC, greater reliability and availability, and support from a more diverse industrial base. The use of preexisting items or those designed for other applications (we will call these off-the-shelf systems) permeates all aspects of modern new product development. Off-the-shelf and open source are the mantras for developing complex, software-centric systems in the global economy of the 21st century.
