Assertion-based monitoring in practice - Checking correctness of an automotive sensor interface

Abstract

In this paper, we evaluate the assertion-based monitoring technology for mixed-signal systems by applying it to real-world case study from the automotive domain. We first motivate the case study by presenting the state-of-the- practice verification and validation work-flow typically used in the automotive industry. We identify the shortcomings of this work-flow, and propose a more rigorous and automated methodology based on monitoring correctness of simulated mixed signal designs with respect to assertions, which formalize in Signal Temporal Logic (STL) the requirements from the design specification. We apply the assertion-based monitoring framework for mixed signal designs to check the correctness of Distributed System Interface (DSI3) in a modern airbag system-on-chip application. We present all the relevant steps in our proposed work-flow, evaluate the results and discuss the framework's benefits as well as its identified missing features. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.