July 2008:

Triakis Successfully Runs LDRA-Instrumented Real-Time Code in B787 BCMS VSIL

Triakis has succeeded in adapting its Virtual System Integration Laboratory (VSIL) executive application to run flight software that has been instrumented by a path coverage analysis tool from LDRA Software Technology. Path coverage, a.k.a. modified condition/decision coverage (MDCD), analysis is required for certification of avionics flight software such as that used in the Boeing B787 Brake Control & Monitoring System (BCMS), developed in conformance with DO-178B level A criticality standards.  Complex real-time software instrumented for MCDC analysis can not be run in a hardware environment because execution timing is dramatically altered by the inserted code.  However, Triakis has come up with an innovative solution to this problem that enables instrumented object code to be run in its VSIL simulator environment with execution timing exactly the same as the non-instrumented code.  This saves the developer/tester a significant amount of time when producing embedded real-time software who's certification requires MCDC analysis.

The solution developed by Triakis is readily adaptable to path coverage analysis tools produced by other suppliers such as IBM's Rational RT, et al.

To our knowledge, no software defects have ever been reported by any airframe manufacturer receiving an avionics system whose software was verified in a Triakis VSIL.