Validity frame concept as effort-cutting technique within the verification and validation of complex cyber-physical systems

Abstract

The increasing performance demands and certification needs of complex cyber-physical systems (CPS) raise the complexity of the engineering process, not only within the development phase, but also in the Verification and Validation (V&V) phase. A proven technique to handle the complexity of CPSs is Model-Based Design (MBD). Nevertheless, the verification and validation of complex CPSs is still an exhaustive process and the usability of the models to front-load V&V activities heavily depends on the knowledge of the models and the correctness of the conducted virtual experiments. In this paper, we explore how the effort (and cost) of the V&V phase of the engineering process of complex CPSs can be reduced by enhancing the knowledge about the system components, and explicitly capturing it within their corresponding validity frame. This effort reduction originates from exploiting the captured system knowledge to generate efficient V&V processes and by automating activities at different model life stages, such as the setup and execution of boundary-value or fault-injection tests. This will be discussed in the context of a complex CPS: a safety-critical adaptive cruise control system. CCS CONCEPTS • Computer systems organization → Embedded and cyberphysical systems; • Computing methodologies → Model verification and validation.

Validity Frame–enabled model-based engineering processes

“…Van Mierlo et al 10 proposed the essential and conceptual, yet practical, structure of the VF concept, together with a process for building them. In Van Acker and colleague's studies, [32][33][34] VFs are demonstrated in different engineering activities, showing the benefits of using them within a verification and validation (V&V) activity, a computational design synthesis (CDS) activity, and a digital twin design activity.…”

Development of a Meta-language and its Qualifiable Implementation for the Use in Safety-critical Software

“…This includes, for example, SCADE [5] or TargetLink [19]. Furthermore, there are many approaches to facilitate the use of models in the safety-critical area via subsequent formal verification and validation [20] [21] of models and requirements through model-checking [22] [23] [24]. In addition to a model checker, the UPPAAL tool also offers the possibility of creating abstract models, simulate dynamic behavior, and specify and verify the safety of the models [25] [26].…”