A system for automatic testing of embedded software in undergraduate study exercises

Abstract

As student numbers in embedded systems lab courses increase, it becomes more and more time-consuming to verify the correctness of their homework and exam programs. Automatic verification can vastly improve the speed and quality of such tests. This paper describes a system that can carry out black-box tests to verify whether the embedded software running on a target system meets predefined requirements. To this aim, we employ a special test board using an ATmega128 microcontroller which is connected to both the target system and to a host computer. Tests can be selected and started remotely, the results are presented to the user on the host. Monitoring and control via Internet is also easily possible. A special meta-language is used to describe the correct behavior of the tested program, and this description is compiled and downloaded to the test system via a standard RS-232 interface, where the test is executed. The same interface is used to control the tests and for transfer of data and end results.

Towards Usage of Combined Exercises in Learning of Low Cost Controllers

“…An overview of software testing can be found in Muccini (2002). The verification of student programs utilized by Vienna University of Technology is presented in Legourski et al (2005), but the authors specialize in Atmel ATmega128 microcontrollers, which require different methods than slow PLCs. Our soft-commissioning is based on data flow techniques are described in Tretmans and Belinfante (1999), Hong et al (2003), and Bernardo and Inverardi (2003).…”

A global curriculum design framework for embedded system education

“…As more students choose to study embed ded system, it becomes more time-consuming to verify the correctness of their homework and exam results [9]. Take myself for example, I taught totally 178 students in the 2009-2010 semester.…”

Nexos

“…Other previous work has emphasized the use of test-driven development (TDD) in embedded systems courses [15], or have presented tools for facilitating embedded system testing [13]. Our project includes automated testing tools both to assist student development and faculty assessment.…”