Embedded.com Tech Focus Newsletter (3-10-14): Modeling tools

By Bernard Cole

If you think the trend is away from hands-on embedded C programming and toward the use of high level modeling tools for creating the design framework and auto-generating correct by construction code, be sure to attend the 2014 ESC/EELive! In San Jose, Ca.

How existing languages for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) can be extended with domain-specific constructs for medical devices and used to generate native code that runs on both Intel and ARM processors.

Many features of model-driven development tools for embedded system design can also be used to create software for security- and safety-critical applications.

In Part 1 of a four part tutorial on modeling tools, Shelley Gretlein of National Instruments provides a brief introduction to the range of modeling methodologies and why you should consider their use in your embedded designs.

Use Autosar and open source tools such as GENIVI in combination with model driven development to build extensible automotive systems that can adapt to a variety of design environments.

Two popular approaches to high level embedded design, model-based development using Simulink and model based design using UML/SysML can be used effectively in a wide range of robotic and machine control systems.

In this article series. Miro Samek introduces you to the basics of UML state machines basic notation, clarifying semantics, and provides some code examples to the role of UML state machines have in practical, everyday programming rather than mathematical abstractions. Up first: The over simplification of the event-action paradigm.

Peter Mueller provides five reasons why embedded developers should know more about statecharts and how that knowledge can be used to ensure software quality.

How to use the SCADE (Safety Critical Application Development Environment) to help model problems of determinism and ambiguity in many safety-critical control system applications.

State machines offer an approach for programming MCUs that is especially useful, yet probably seldom gets used by most programmers.

Creating a round-trip 1-to-1 mapping between a Unified Modeling Language (UML) state chart diagram and its implementation, constructing a state machines by generating and managing executable code from the UML state chart diagram.

A straightforward guide to adding structure to your software project using a finite state machine design pattern, requiring no exceptional knowledge other than basic programming and some common sense.