A Tool Set for Integrated Software and Hardware Dependability Analysis Using the Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL) and Error Model Annex

Cyberphysical (embedded) computer system availability and reliability can be modeled and assessed using the Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL) and its Error Model Annex. AADL can represent systems at multiple levels of abstraction. Therefore, analyses can be performed early and often throughout the development process thereby minimizing the cost and schedule impact of changes. We discuss how the AADL and its Error Model Annex can be used for automated generation of a reliability/dependability model. We then describe a tool set to graphically create AADL system architecture and error behavior files that are then transformed into Stochastic Petri Nets (SPN) and Stochastic Activity Network (SAN) representations and demonstrate its use using a generic satellite as an example.