Heterogeneous models and analyses in the design of real-time embedded systems - an avionic case-study

The development of embedded systems according to Model-Driven Development relies on two complementary activities: system modeling on the one hand and analysis of the non-functional properties, such as timing properties, on the other hand. Yet, the coupling between models and analyses remains largely disregarded so far: e.g., how to apply an analysis on a model? How to manage the analysis process? This paper presents an application of our research on this topic. In particular, we show that our approach makes it possible to combine heterogeneous models and analyses in the design of an avionic system. We use two languages to model the system at different levels of abstraction: the industry standard AADL (Architecture Analysis and Design Language) and the more recent implementation-oriented CPAL language (Cyber-Physical Action Language). We then combine different real-time scheduling analyses so as to gradually define the task and network parameters and finally validate the schedulability of all activities of the system.