An approach for verification of a satellite simulator - An evolving system

Abstract

© 2016 IEEE.Satellite simulators are developed in the context of a space mission lifecycle to represent the real behavior of a satellite during operation and may be used for different purposes. To attend a particular purpose new functions are added or modified according to the mission phase needs, requiring models re-adaptation in a system evolving concept. The process of verification of satellite simulator software requires high-efficiency in accomplishing realistic functional and behavioral requirements. Based on the complex set of requirements the satellite behavior is represented in the simulator through software models specified by tables of cause-effect rules. Considering that the Satellite Simulator is an evolving systems and it needs to assure that the logic implemented in the simulator conforms to the requirements, the manual verification process becomes impracticable, therefore demanding a compatible verification approach. The approach suggested here unifies two techniques Conformance and Fault Inject (CoFI), constructed on Model-Based Testing and Model Checking added to a method so that it can translate the tables of cause-effect rules into finite state machines. This paper presents the verification approach illustrating it with the Data Collection Subsystem (DCS) model of the CBERS satellite simulator being developed at National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

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