NDLI: Automated Testing of Science Instrument Flight Software

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Mazer, A.S. Loring, S.M.
Copyright Year	2008
Description	Author affiliation: Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA (Mazer, A.S.; Loring, S.M.)
Abstract	This paper describes an approach to automated testing of science instrument flight software using scripted commanding, telemetry capture, and intelligent telemetry verification. The most difficult piece of this approach, telemetry verification, is accomplished with a JPL-developed software package, HKCheck, which takes user- defined packet formats, error conditions, and goals, and verifies that binary telemetry meets the specified conditions. Packet formats are defined using an ASCII file, easily created in any text editor. Test-specific and context-specific error conditions are expressed using a simple C-like notation, enabling large amounts of telemetry from normal flight operation or system testing to be rapidly scanned for anomalous telemetry. Goals, like waypoints, are similarly expressed in simple notation, and allow telemetry analysts or test conductors to look for specific events in the telemetry stream. The power and flexibility of the HKCheck error and goal specification language enables context-dependent analysis of telemetry, and rapid, repeatable analysis of test results, encouraging more frequent testing, and reducing the risk of human error in test analysis. Use of HKCheck on Mars Climate Sounder enabled full regression testing of flight software every month or two, rather than just on major deliveries, giving developers confidence that software was working correctly and uncovering potential bugs earlier in the development cycle than standard methods allow. It has since been used, with extensions, on other flight projects as well.
Starting Page	1
Ending Page	12
File Size	1400612
Page Count	12
File Format	PDF
ISBN	9781424414871
ISSN	1095323X
DOI	10.1109/AERO.2008.4526597
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	2008-03-01
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Automatic testing Software testing Instruments Telemetry Risk analysis System testing Software packages Conductors Specification languages Humans
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Aerospace Engineering Space and Planetary Science

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

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