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A formal framework for modeling and validating Simulink diagrams

Published: 01 October 2009 Publication History

Abstract

Simulink has been widely used in industry to model and simulate embedded systems. With the increasing usage of embedded systems in real-time safety-critical situations, Simulink becomes deficient to analyze (timing) requirements with high-level assurance. In this article, we apply Timed Interval Calculus (TIC), a real-time specification language, to complement Simulink with TIC formal verification capability. We elaborately construct TIC library functions to model Simulink library blocks which are used to compose Simulink diagrams. Next, Simulink diagrams are automatically transformed into TIC models which preserve functional and timing aspects. Important requirements such as timing bounded liveness can be precisely specified in TIC for whole diagrams or some components. Lastly, validation of TIC models can be rigorously conducted with a high degree of automation using a generic theorem prover. Our framework can enlarge the design space by representing environment properties to open systems, and handle complex diagrams as the analysis of continuous and discrete behavior is supported.

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      Published In

      cover image Formal Aspects of Computing
      Formal Aspects of Computing  Volume 21, Issue 5
      Oct 2009
      115 pages
      ISSN:0934-5043
      EISSN:1433-299X
      Issue’s Table of Contents

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      Springer-Verlag

      Berlin, Heidelberg

      Publication History

      Published: 01 October 2009
      Accepted: 31 December 2008
      Received: 09 January 2008
      Published in FAC Volume 21, Issue 5

      Author Tags

      1. Simulink
      2. Real-Time Specification
      3. Z Language
      4. Formal Verification

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      • (2022)Proving Simulink Block Diagrams Correct via RefinementWireless Communications & Mobile Computing10.1155/2022/80158962022Online publication date: 1-Jan-2022
      • (2022)A Contract-Based Semantics and Refinement for SimulinkDependable Software Engineering. Theories, Tools, and Applications10.1007/978-3-031-21213-0_9(134-148)Online publication date: 24-Oct-2022
      • (2020)The Refinement Calculus of Reactive Systems ToolsetInternational Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer (STTT)10.1007/s10009-020-00561-422:6(689-708)Online publication date: 7-Apr-2020
      • (2013)Verifying simulink diagrams via a hybrid hoare logic proverProceedings of the Eleventh ACM International Conference on Embedded Software10.5555/2555754.2555763(1-10)Online publication date: 29-Sep-2013
      • (2011)SimCheckInnovations in Systems and Software Engineering10.1007/s11334-011-0145-47:2(73-83)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2011
      • (2011)From control law diagrams to Ada via CircusFormal Aspects of Computing10.1007/s00165-010-0170-323:4(465-512)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2011

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