On the Relationship between Model Coverage and Code Coverage Using MATLAB´s Simulink

Software Testing is an approach to ensuring the quality of software systems. Testing of safety-critical systems often requires conformance to certain code coverage criteria, including for example, in aviation, Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC). In some situations, however, access to the actual code may be restricted with black Box approaches, and testers may only be able to use models of the system, such as those in MATLAB´s Simulink. Without access to the code, exact code coverage measurement may not be possible. This paper presents a method of identifying and using the Simulink model´s constraints to generate test cases which can achieve high coverage of the actual source code. A case study confirming the relationship between the model´s coverage and the code coverage is also presented.