From the prototype to the final embedded system using the Ocarina AADL tool suite

Building distributed deal-time embedded systems requires a stringent methodology, from early requirement capture to full implementation. However, there is a strong link between the requirements and the final implementation (e.g., scheduling and resource dimensioning). Therefore, a rapid prototyping process based on automation of tedious and error-prone tasks (analysis and code generation) is required to speed up the development cycle. In this article, we show how the AADL ( Architecture Analysis and Design Language ), which appeared in late 2004, helps solve these issues thanks to a dedicated tool suite. We then detail the prototyping process and its current implementation: Ocarina.