Using Software Engineering Automation Tools for Flight-Critical Software

Summary:

Originally titled, "Lessons Learned from Incorporation of Commercial Computer-Aided Software Engineering Tools in a Flight-Critical Software Test," this article explores ways to use what were previously called commercial computer aided software engineering (CASE) tools for safety-critical software development.

In flight-critical, software-intensive avionics systems, a major technical and managerial component is the testing and analysis of the developed software. In many of these systems the software must be "ultra-reliable" (work the first time and every time) and produced within schedule and budget.

In this paper, we will examine how an existing successful software verification and validation project incorporated commercial computer aided software engineering (CASE) tools. The paper examines the original approach, how CASE and new tool concepts have been incorporated within this approach, and some observed impacts to cost and quality. A final section identifies the challenges that were faced during development of the test system.

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About the author

Jon Hagar

Jon Hagar is an independent consultant working in software product integrity, testing, verification, and validation. Jon publishes regularly on testing, including the book Software Test Attacks to Break Mobile and Embedded Devices. For more than thirty years, he has worked in software engineering, particularly testing, supporting projects which include control systems (avionics and auto), spacecraft, mobile-smart devices, and attack testing of smart phones. Jon is an editor for ISO, IEEE, and OMG standards.