Model to code generation of UML/SysML activity diagrams for ARM CortexM MCUs

The complexity in embedded systems has been increased in the last years. To overcome the system complexity various methodologies have been presented. Both in industry and academia, Model-Based design has been accepted to be the best solution to solve this problem. Model-Based Design is a technique for developing embedded system applications and cyber-physical systems based on a hierarchy of reusable design blocks. SysML/UML activity diagrams are widely used for the modelling and analysis of complex systems, and they have become the de facto standard for software and embedded systems. Previously in our group, we formalized SysML activity diagrams by developing a calculus called New Activity Calculus (NuAC). In this work, we redefined NuAC terms to support RTX (Keil Real-Time Operating System) and present an automated SysML/UML activity diagram to RTX code generator, using mapping rules expressed in NuAC. To achieve this goal, we proposed a set of mapping rules that were used in mapping a SysML/ UML activity diagram into a suitable code to be executed on ARM CortexM processor family. To automate the process of code generation, we presented a JAVA application that uses the proposed rules to automatically generate the RTX code from the input activity diagram model. To demonstrate the capability of the developed tool, we use it to implement a train control algorithm on an ARM Cortex-M4 device. The implemented model is run on the target platform and the correct functionality of the system is verified