Rapita launches RVS 3.1 at Avionics Europe

The latest version of the on-target software verification tool suite for critical real-time embedded avionics systems was launched at Avionics Europe 2013 today. RVS 3.1 includes:

• The Report Comparison facility which gives software developers the opportunity to see “before” and “after” data. This means they can assess the impact of any optimization work on a step-by-step basis, rather than at the end of the analysis;
• A significantly faster GUI, with early customer previews seeing marked reductions in the time required to load a large report;
• A new report navigator function providing quick access to files and function lists;
• The addition of a new Send Feedback option in the help menu. Users can compose questions to Rapita’s support team which include annotated screenshots or the report they are looking at, with or without the source code.

The launch will be accompanied by a presentation from Zoë Stephenson on DO-178B tool qualification and WCET (worst-case execution time).

RVS Explained

RVS (Rapita Verification Suite) 3.1 provides target support for typical avionics processors, toolchains and real-time operating systems. The cornerstones of RVS 3.1 are a blend of specially created verification and code coverage tools:

• RapiTime is an automated on-target timing analysis tool which measures performance, determines worst-case execution time (WCET), and guides optimization efforts;
• RapiCover is an on-target code coverage measurement tool which supports system and integration testing processes, involves minimal instrumentation, and provides an adaptable approach to on-target code coverage measurement. RapiCover also supports coverage up to MC/DC.

These tools can reduce the cost of measuring, optimizing and verifying the timing performance and test effectiveness of critical real-time embedded systems in industries such as avionics and automotive electronics. RVS 3.1 is offered in two variants for the avionics and automotive electronics industries: Aero and Auto.

Report Comparison

The new Report Comparison feature allows developers to:

• Display two reports together and assess the effectiveness of their optimization work;
• Compare an old build and a new one to see the impact on worst-case execution time and the code on the WCET path;
• See the high-water paths and differences on two separate reports;
• On a multicore system, assess whether the same code takes the same time to execute on different cores;
• Compare all fields presented on the main report and see "before" and "after" data.

Tool qualification

Since the tools will be used to verify code in critical systems, RVS 3.1 can be qualified for DO-178B (in aerospace) and ISO 26262 (in the automotive domain). “We’re excited by the new features in RVS 3.1,” said CEO, Guillem Bernat, “especially the report comparison – the ability to see how optimization has improved timing or code coverage measurement between one version and another is eagerly anticipated by our customers.” “RVS 3.1 builds on Rapita’s successful track record of bringing verification products to engineers working on critical real-time embedded systems in the avionics and automotive electronics industries.” ENDS For more information visit www.rapitasystems.com, email acoombes@rapitasystems.com or call +44 1904 567747 and ask for Andrew Coombes. Rapita Systems Ltd We specialize in providing customised on-target verification solutions for large critical real-time embedded software systems in the avionics and automotive electronics markets. A spin-off company from the University of York, founded in 2004 to bring real-time verification products to market, Rapita Systems now has clients and distributors around the world.