Intelligent Object Oriented Software Testing Technology

The objective of this SBIR project is to develop an Intelligent ObjectOriented Software Testing Scheme for conducting software tests, withemphasis on integration and regression testing of complex systems suchas the Tactical Tomahawk Weapons Control System (TTWCS). SSCI and ourpartners (Boeing Mission Planning Systems and Prof. Daniel Jackson atMIT) propose to develop this novel scheme using object-orientedtestcase design, machine readable XML technology, data-mining of testresults, iterative software testing methodology, and specification andrequirement analysis. The proposed scheme will significantly automatethe software testing process, as well as the analysis of test results,and lead to higher software reliability and lower testing cost. ThePhase I effort will produce a software library in an object-orientedlanguage, which allows test engineers to conduct iterative testing ofcomplex, distributed and data driven software systems in an efficientmanner, and a tool to compare and manage the log files. Phase II willfocus on developing test result analysis tools using XML anddata-mining technologies, as well as a simple, intuitive userinterface for the test analysts with the ability to make complexqueries of the test data. Boeing MPS has extensive experience in thedevelopment, testing, and integration of the Tomahawk Mission PlanningSystem, and will partner as a subcontractor to SSCI in the developmentof various components in the proposed testing scheme. ProfessorJackson from MIT will provide consulting support in the areas ofsoftware specification analysis and testing methods. Though our proposed software testing scheme is focused on integration testing of TTWCS, it is general enough for testing a wide variety of software systems, such as commercial vehicle control systems, financial software, and medical diagnostic systems.Given the ubiquitous nature of software systems in this technology-intensive age, and the increasing demand for higher reliability of such systems, the proposed scheme has enormous commercial potential, in both public and private sectors.