Model-based testing of PLC programs with appropriate conformance relations

International audienceNumerous theoretical results have been obtained in the field of conformance testing, a very promising formal technique to improve dependability of critical systems. Nevertheless, developing on this basis PLC test techniques that produce correct conformance verdicts requires to take into account the real technological features of PLC. This paper proposes conformance relations that meet this objective. Examples illustrate the benefits of the contribution

A conformance testing relation for symbolic timed automata

We introduce Symbolic Timed Automata, an amalgamation of symbolic transition systems and timed automata, which allows to express nondeterministic data-dependent control flow with inputs and outputs and real-time behaviour. In particular, input data can influence the timing behaviour. We define two semantics for STA, a concrete one as timed labelled transition systems and another one on a symbolic level. We show that the symbolic semantics is complete and correct w.r.t. the concrete one. Finally, we introduce symbolic conformance relation stioco , which is an extension of the well-known ioco conformance relation. Relation stioco is defined using FO-logic on a purely symbolic level. We show that stioco corresponds on the concrete semantic level to Krichen and Tripakis’ implementation relation tioco for timed labelled transition systems

Simulation combined model-based testing method for train control systems

A Train Control System (TCS) is utilised to guard the operational safety of the trains in railway systems. Therefore, functional testing is applied to verify consistency between the TCS and specification requirements. Traditional functional testing in TCSs is mainly based on manually designed test cases, which is becoming unsuitable for testing increasingly complex TCSs. Therefore, Model-Based Testing (MBT) methods have been introduced into TCS functional testing, to improve the efficiency and coverage of TCS testing, with application difficulties. To overcome the difficulties of applying MBT methods to test TCSs, the author introduces simulation combined MBT which combines an MBT method with simulation. Modelling method and implementation method for the proposed approach were explained in detail. Two case studies were undertaken to explore the effectiveness of the testing platform developed. The testing results obtained prove that the testing platform can be utilised to implement the functional testing of TCSs. To prove that the MBT platform is effective in detecting errors in the SUT, validation and verification was undertaken, which include validation of specification requirements and verification of the MBT platform. The testing performance is proven to be better than existing MBT methods in terms of coverage and efficiency