Abstract: The large-scale evaluation and gradual optimization (LEGO) model of software development was designed to be capabilities-driven. Although the motivation for its structure was support of research projects, this model is applicable to development of any system where the identification and implementation of incremental levels of functionality is critical. It differs from other existing development models in that system functionality is emphasized over prototyping. Given the time and level-of-effort constraints inherent to contracted work, ground-up system development is neither desirable nor possible. At the same time, a cursory technology survey and assessment is inadequate and unacceptable. Maximal results are realized when work is focused on the judicious extension of pre-existing technologies and the development of new capabilities where required. The LEGO methodology was designed to approach system development from this perspective. This paper will describe some current models of software development, the research environment which motivated design of LEGO, the LEGO model itself, as well as application of LEGO to research and development of RADIUS, an image-understanding project currently being worked by Hughes.!5
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