GTD Presents New Functional Test Approach at the 3rd IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Aerospace
On June 22–23, 2016, GTD presented the paper “Test Automatization for Critical Space Software” at the 3rd IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Aerospace, held in Florence (Firenze), Italy.
The event brought together international experts in aerospace systems, measurement technologies and space software validation. GTD shared its latest advancements in functional and automated testing for critical on-board space software, reinforcing its position as a key player in verification and validation (V&V) activities for space missions.
A New Functional Test Approach for Critical On-Board Software
GTD introduced a structured functional testing methodology based on six core principles:
- Complete Data Capture – All data generated during software testing must be stored and analyzed, eliminating dependency on directly expected behavior.
- High Degree of Automation – Maximizing automation to improve reliability and repeatability.
- Separation of Test Logic and Implementation – Ensuring maintainability and scalability.
- Configuration-Based Test Cases – Using configuration files to minimize impact on software requirements.
- Platform Independence – Whenever possible, test cases are platform independent, reducing test bench dependencies and enabling reuse across projects.
- Test Procedure Language Implementation – Use of a dedicated test procedure language (similar to PLUTO) to simplify implementation from a test-based perspective.
This methodology enhances efficiency, traceability and reusability in testing critical aerospace software systems.
Consolidation Through MTG Verification & Validation Activities
The approach was consolidated during the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) program, where GTD plays a leading role in verification and validation activities.
In collaboration with German and Italian industrial partners, GTD developed a testing framework based on this new functional test methodology. The framework is currently used by:
- TS (Test Systems) teams
- RB (Regression Bench) teams
- AIT (Assembly, Integration and Testing) teams
It supports the testing of MTG onboard software under development.
The entire process has been reviewed and accepted by TAS-F (Thales Alenia Space France) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Adoption in Future European Space Programs
OHB has announced that the TSVF testing framework will be used as the main tool for implementation and execution of V&V test cases in future programs, including:
- SARA
- ELECTRA
- Galileo 2nd Generation
The functional and performance testing of critical space software remains a highly complex task due to stringent quality, safety and reliability requirements.
Strengthening European Collaboration in Space Software Testing
Several institutions, including ESA, have expressed interest in collaborating with GTD to:
- Define standards for test case logging
- Improve test and operations procedure languages (e.g., PLUTO)
- Advance next-generation testing tools for space missions
GTD’s extensive experience in designing, implementing and validating critical onboard software positions the company as a strategic contributor to the evolution of aerospace testing methodologies.
Through these collaborations and alliances, GTD aims to play a leading role in the development of the next generation of verification and validation tools for critical space systems.
