Concurrent Software Testing for Real-Time Avionics Systems

Nearly half the costs of developing embedded software is devoted to various forms of software testing. Software testing is performed both by the developer and then later in each phase of the software development. The testing procedure is accomplished by a progression of test environments, beginning with simulation debuggers, followed by software integration testing, then system integration testing and finally flight test. The quality of the delivered software product as well as its cost is determined largely by the effectiveness of the software test process. A possible new method of software testing based on a new software paradigm that was evolved by Professor Manuel Blum. These developments are founded on a probablistic, interactive proof which relies on randomness and the interplay between a prover and a checker to achieve a practically unassailable proof of correctness. This software testing technique has been proven in a non-real-time environment, but needs to be extended to complex real-time avionics software. There exists a potential for a dramatic increase in the quality of delivered software for military and commerical (Dual Use) avionics products. In addition, this research should result in a reduction in software development and maintenance costs.