Using MDE for the Rapid Prototyping of Space Critical Systems

The reliability requirements for space-critical system call for specific tools and models. Space systems have been a long time user of models (synchronous or asynchronous building blocks), from which code generators could derive analyzable code, while also providing additional benefits like simulation, model checking, etc. However, the integration of multiple models to form one complete system was done manually, in an ad hoc and time consuming way. In this paper, we show how a MDE process built around ASN.l, SDL, SCADE and AADL allows for more rigor by separating concerns to defining data models, functional blocks, interfaces and then behavior of a complete system; and then weave them to build the final systems. By automating the full process, we show the benefits from the system designer perspective: reduced implied complexity, quicker access to evaluation prototype of the end system.