Cooperation eMOTE – Model Based Quality Assurance for Embedded Software

sepp.med GmbH, iSYSTEM AG and the FZI (Research Center for Information Technology in Karlsruhe) cooperate to define and enhance methods and tools for testing embedded software. The project titled eMOTE ("*E*mbedded *Mo*del-based *Te*sting") is funded by the BMWi (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology) and will last for two years.

Primary objective of the project is to define and enhance test methods for embedded systems software regarding their quality and efficiancy. One important step is to increase the systematic aspect of test design. By the use of test models, and the raise of the automation level through automatic test generation as well as the combination of black box and with box tests with code coverage analysis while running functional tests, an increase in test coverage should be achieved without increasing test efforts. This is realized through the combination of model based approaches with powerful development systems.

Main goal is to adopt sepp.med’s model based test procedures and their test generation methods to the specifics and constraints of real-time embedded software. iSYSTEM’s debug solutions are extended and customized  to optimally support test execution in real time. In particular following aspects should be covered and/or solutions developed:

•    Coverage of existing and currently evolving standards for embedded software development and test in different industry sectors
•    Non-intrusive testing, in particular without code instrumentation
•    Test of real time conditions and their description in the model
•    Combination of test methods with code coverage analysis
•    Inclusion of data sources (for external stimulation of an embedded system) in the test pattern and the test itself
•    Integration in a model based development process

 “The cooperation with iSYSTEM and the FZI is an important step for us to further establish our methodology “.mzT” in embedded and real time systems and to present our innovative ideas for quality assurance to the market. In the last years we concentrated in offering our .mzT to customers for systematic test case generation only. We based this on existing custom test and automation solutions. With eMOTE we will extend this methodology to a continuous chain from design up to test execution as well as code coverage measurement for embedded systems software. This we will proof that model based test design is also very beneficial in the embedded software test area”, says Florian Prester, CEO of sepp.med.

 “The cooperation with sepp.med and the FZI is another important milestone in the implementation of our “V-model strategy”. In the last years we concentrated in the cost-effective integration and adoption of traditional software development tools within the complete software development and test process. In particular we showed how to use iSYSTEM tools from within other applications. With eMOTE we will develop methods and tools that enable our customers to master the test of embedded systems. Very exciting!” explains Erol Simsek, Director Sales and Marketing of iSYSTEM AG.

 “The corporate project offers us the possibility to contribute our experiences in the areas of model based development and test of software and systems into application oriented scenarios and industrial tools. The connection of software tests and the constraints of embedded software result in very interesting and demanding questions for us”, reckons Dr. Philipp Graf, project manager of FZI.

More info

iSYSTEM contact: Erol Simsek

FZI eMOTE Web Page (German)

Funded by: BMWi

Project Number: KF2076903SS9