Konatus optimizes Embraer E2 flight control system testing with LDRA verification technology

WIRRAL, England, 6 Oct. 2016. An engineering team at Konatus, aviation control system safety requirement and certification methodology subject-matter experts in São José dos Campos, Brazil, deployed a comprehensive safety verification tool suite from LDRA, provider of standards compliance, automated software verification, source code analysis, and test tools in Wirral, England, to optimize testing, mitigate certification risks, and reduce the safety verification schedule for Embraer's E2 commercial jet.

The flight system control safety testing methodology contributed to the launch of Embraer’s next-generation E2 jet aircraft months ahead of schedule, officials say.

“Being able to roll out our new family of E2 jets ahead of schedule is an important milestone in Embraer’s commercial aviation strategy,” acknowledges Embraer Flight Control Systems Manager Marcos Gritti. “The LDRA and Konatus teams and technology were instrumental in helping us with the large volume of test cases needed to ensure the aircraft’s safety prior to the E2’s first flight.”

LDRA and Konatus began working with Embraer in early 2013 to establish a safety standards and compliance methodology for the E2 aircraft family using the LDRA tool suite for software requirements, team task management, flight control system safety assessment, verification, and validation.

The E2 is Embraer’s first civilian aircraft project that implements “fly-by-wire” software developed internally and tested with the LDRA tool suite for certification for DO-178C, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification, required of all commercial software-based aerospace systems.

“The LDRA and Konatus teams congratulate Embraer for the successful launch of the E2 jet,” says Ian Hennell, operations director at LDRA. “We are very proud to be involved in such a meaningful way with this important aerospace industry milestone, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to Embraer’s success.”

Embraer’s E2 project achieved the following, with LDRA and Konatus involvement, officials report:

• 93 percent reduction of test case execution time — from hours to minutes
• Tens of thousands of test cases imported
• Generated source code and test case from SCADE Suite (often used for safety-critical embedded control applications) imported for automated regression testing on target hardware
• Highly automated and optimized target integration for scalability and performance
• Compatibility with integrated development environments (IDEs) including Green Hills Multi
• Deployment of tools and automation for verification of auto-generated code and hand-generated code
• Qualification packages included a customized coding standard based on MISRA, structural coverage, and unit/low-level test

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