Testing Embedded Control Software

EMBEDDED WORLD 2016 Testing embedded control software

At the Embedded World 2016, Piketec (Germany) presents the eighth release of TPT (time partition testing), a tool for testing embedded control software. Tests can also be executed via CAN.

The company developed the testing tool TPT based on the demands of the test process, especially concerning safety-related systems. The tool combines test process steps in an arranged and so-called user-friendly environment. The tool tests among other things Matlab/Simulink and Ascet models, C-code (on PC or on PiL boards), as well as control units on a test bench, or in a vehicle using a CAN network. The test results are assessed automatically by TPT.

The release includes the following features:

Automatic test case generation for Matlab/Simulink and Targetlink models: Tasmo is the name of the added tool by Piketec that automatically generates test cases to maximize the decision Tests can be executed via CAN (Photo: Piketec) and condition coverage of the models with a minimum of effort.

Test case generation to cover all equivalence classes: It’s possible in TPT to define equivalence classes. The tool can automatically generate test cases by combining automatically determined representatives of the equivalence classes for the input signals. After testing, the equivalence coverage is automatically checked and documented.

Recording manual test cases: The dashboard of the tool lets users build interactive, graphical test interfaces. The user actions with the dashboard while manually testing can be recorded, saved, and altered as human-readable test cases.

Assessment of measurement data simplified: With the assessments in TPT, tests can be assessed rule-based. The new functionality makes it possible to assess measurement data from vehicle tests.

“Over the past year, we’ve especially worked at high pressure on the development of intelligent mechanisms for automated test case generation”, says Dr. Jens Luedemann, managing director at Piketec. “We’re proud that our developer team under the direction of Dr. Benjamin Wilmes has managed to develop a software that is capable of analyzing Matlab/Simulink and Targetlink models. Following the analysis, this software is able to generate the smallest amount of test cases necessary to ensure a maximum of structural model coverage.” The software named Tasmo, an acronym for “testing via automated search for models”, is part of the testing tool. “It was also important for us to make the tool intuitive to use”, emphasizes Dr. Benjamin Wilmes.

About time partition testing

The testing tool can be used according to many safety standards and in all software development phases (MiL, SiL, PiL, HiL) in the field of embedded control and regulation systems. TPT can be connected to external test environments. Application areas are the set up of test cases, execution of test cases, and evaluation of test cases and measurement data.