ADELE to Address OSATE Graphical Editor

The OSATE graphical editor has a number of recognized shortcomings. Under the SPICES initiative, an effort is underway to reimplement the OSATE graphical editor to address its shortcomings. The improvement projects is known as ADELE.

Acceleo Release 2.2.0

The Acceleo tool has been used to generate representations such as TLA specifications from AADL models. Release 2.2.0 of Acceleo features an enhanced template editor, a fully localized user interface, generic script or template encoding, and updated generator modules. For more information, visit http://www.acceleo.org/pages/additionnal-products/en.

WW Technology Demonstrates Tool for AADL

WW Technology provides dependability solutions. The organization recently demonstrated a version of its Error Detection Isolation Containment Types (EDICT) tool interfaced with AADL.

Materials from IMA Workshop Available

More than 50 participants from academia and industry took part in the workshop on Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) hosted by the Network of Excellence on Embedded Systems Design ARTIST2. The presentations are available at http://www.artist-embedded.org/artist/Agenda,931.html.

AADL-UML Paper Published

From PIMs to PSMs by Peter Feiler, Dionisio de Niz, and Bruce Lewis of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), in collaboration with Chris Raistrick of Kennedy Carter, has been selected for the Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Engineering of Complex Computer Systems (ICECCS07). This paper is one of only five selected from the UML & AADL'2007 Workshop that was co-located with ICECCS07.

The authors propose the use of both AADL and xUML (an extension to the Unified Modeling Language) in the development of embedded systems through models. The paper is available from http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/ICECCS.2007.25.

Rapid Growth and Diversity Seen in AADL Toolsets

Here is a summary of the toolsets available for use with the AADL standard.

  • A new release of the Open Source AADL Tool Environment (OSATE) is available. Developed by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), OSATE offers full language editing and semantic checking, and multiple analysis plug-ins. OSATE is Eclipse-based and provides integrated text and graphical editing with TOPCASED.
  • Twenty companies, led by Airbus led are developing the TOPCASED toolkit that offers a metamodeling framework with support for AADL graphics, XML interchange format, model transformation, and behavior annex; it also will support UML.
  • CHEDDAR, from the University of Brest, provides an advanced scheduling analysis toolset.
  • From Ellidiss, STOOD is a computer-aided software engineering toolset for use with OSATE, TOPCASED, and Cheddar. STOOD includes transformations between notations and document support. In addition to supporting AADL, STOOD supports UML and HOOD.
  • Ocarina is the open-source ENST toolset that offers AADL graphics generation, middleware generation, and integration of network distributed processors to an AADL model. Ocarina creates a formal model of executive integrated in AADL and generates to CORBA, RT, and FT network protocols.
  • For open source, consulting, and toolset support, Fremont Associates now offers
    • AADL to ACRS (process algebra)—formal analysis of concurrent resources
    • AADL to Charon—generation and integration of hybrid control systems
    • AADL Architecture Simulator—integrates event driven and schedule driven
  • The Generic Modeling Environment (GME) consortium at Vanderbilt University is engaged in work on a DARPA-sponsored metamodeling framework, AADL capture and role-based system security analysis, model transformation, and integration. Read a white paper about this consortium (pdf, 870 lb).
  • Axlog provides training and recently made a trial version of ADes, an AADL simulator, available. Axlog also provides custom services.

Open Group Looks at AADL for Standardization Effort

The Open Group real-time and embedded systems forum is considering adopting AADL for standardization efforts in high availability, security, dependable systems. Open Group has strong interest in areas such as architectural analysis, formal methods, and certification. The AADL subcommittee is currently supporting the Open Group's investigation through four hours of presentations on AADL at the group's two most-recent meetings. The Open Group has also offered to host AADL User Group Meetings.

AVSI, AADL Joint Meeting

In January 2007, the Aerospace Vehicle Systems Institute (AVSI) provided an overview of its plan for using AADL in a research project on the validation and verification of safety and operational quality attributes.

That project is part of the AVSI effort to address embedded, real-time system needs for

  • better systems, software, safety and security engineering processes, methods, and tools
  • better integration of systems, software, safety, and security engineering(know that the system is acceptable before it is built)
  • proper emphasis on proactive versus reactive verification
  • the need to address key emerging trends (such as component-based, model-based, or proof-based development)

AVSI is a cooperative of aerospace industry organizations and government agencies. It is administered by the Texas Engineering Experiment station located on the Texas A&M University campus. AVSI was founded in 1997 with a vision of linking industry members, government agencies, and academia in an effort to do cooperative research and development. For more about AVSI, visit the AVSI Web site.

AADL Consortium Discussed

Rockwell-Collins hss expressed the need to form a consortium of industry users to enhance support for the AADL standard and tool development. For information, contact Bruce Lewis at bruce.a.lewis at us.army.mil.

New Application Areas Highlighted by Users

New Simulator Tools

View the list of past news items