Mind the Gap!: From Simulation to Reality

Rarely do our embedded systems solutions exist in isolation. For the most part we enable a mechanical system. Our early prototype when first exercised in the laboratory will frequently appear to exhibit additional (unintended) behaviour from that of its well-behaved simulated design. We often ascribe that behaviour to the ´fragility´ of the prototype, which may be typical of its mechanical attributes - but is that a reasonable expectation for software systems that have had significant modelling?