High Assurance for Embedded Systems through Aspect-Oriented Specification and Verification

Conventional methods of quality assurance cannot manage the increasing complexity of embedded systems and the demands being placed upon them. Aspect-Oriented Programming is a promising new software technology, well suited to embedded systems. MarryingAOP with formal methods will make possible high assurance at low cost, as will be demonstrated by a prototype environment for software development through Aspect-Oriented Assurance; that is, Aspect-Oriented design, specification, and verification.Theproposed prototype development environment for embedded software will provide the means for producing high-assurance software at low cost. The power of formal methods will be at the disposal of developers, without requiring them to learn specializedmathematics. The factorization of the design specification and implementation into aspects will encourage reuse and enable the amortization of development costs over large user bases. The quality and stability of the resulting software will spread thecosts over long periods of time. Without such a tool for producing safe and reliable embedded software, we are faced with the choice between accepting large risks and foregoing the promise of technological advances.The DoD will be the first to benefit from Aspect-Oriented assurance, but the entire embedded systems community stands to gain. Development of the prototype into a commercial prototype will make the technology available. The tremendous commercialpotential of a high-assurance tool for embedded systems will attract many customers and potential third-party commercial partners.