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Model-Based Testing in Practice: An Industrial Case Study using GraphWalker
Mälardalen University, School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, Embedded Systems.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8746-7209
Mälardalen University, School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, Embedded Systems.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0611-2655
Mälardalen University, School of Innovation, Design and Engineering, Embedded Systems. ES (Embedded Systems).ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2416-4205
Bombardier Transportation, Sweden.
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2021 (English)In: ISEC 2021: 14th Innovations in Software Engineering Conference, 2021, p. 1-11, article id 5Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Model-based testing (MBT) is a test design technique that supports the automation of software testing processes and generates test artefacts based on a system model representing behavioural aspects of the system under test (SUT). Previous research has shown some positive aspects of MBT such as low-cost test case generation and fault detection effectiveness. However, it is still a challenge for both practitioners and researchers to evaluate MBT tools and techniques in real, industrial settings. Consequently, the empirical evidence regarding the mainstream use, including the modelling and test case generation using MBT tools, is limited. In this paper, we report the results of a case study on applying GraphWalker, an open-source tool for MBT, on an industrial cyber-physical system (i.e., a Train Control Management System developed by Bombardier Transportation in Sweden), from modelling of real-world requirements and test specifications to test case generation. We evaluate the models of the SUT for completeness and representativeness, compare MBT with manual test cases written by practitioners using multiple attributes as well as share our experiences of selecting and using GraphWalker for industrial application. The results show that a model of the SUT created using both requirements and test specifications provides better understanding of the SUT from testers’ perspective, making it more complete and representative than the model created based only on the requirements specification alone. The generated model-based test cases are longer in terms of the number of test steps, achieve better edge coverage and can cover requirements more frequently in different orders while achieving the same level of requirements coverage as manually created test cases.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021. p. 1-11, article id 5
National Category
Engineering and Technology Computer Systems
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-53940DOI: 10.1145/3452383.3452388Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85105444710ISBN: 9781450390460 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-53940DiVA, id: diva2:1547660
Conference
Innovations in Software Engineering Conference 2021 ISEC 2021, 25 Feb 2021, Online
Projects
XIVT - eXcellence in Variant TestingADEPTNESS - Design-Operation Continuum Methods for Testing and Deployment under Unforeseen Conditions for Cyber-Physical Systems of SystemsAvailable from: 2021-04-27 Created: 2021-04-27 Last updated: 2022-08-24Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Model-based System Testing of Safety-Critical Embedded Software
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Model-based System Testing of Safety-Critical Embedded Software
2022 (English)Licentiate thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

System-level testing of safety-critical embedded systems is complex and costly. MBT has shown promising results in terms of fault detection effectiveness and efficiency of test generation and execution. However, the industrial adoption of MBT approaches is slow and limited to specific industries and domains. Moreover, the strengths and weaknesses of MBT in industrial settings need to be thoroughly evaluated to find an optimal testing strategy.

The objective of this thesis is to adapt, compare, and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of MBT to help industrial practitioners in the testing of safety-critical embedded software. We have divided this objective into three subgoals. To achieve the first subgoal, we have explored multiple state-of-the- art MBT tools and evaluated the selected tool, GraphWalker (GW), in terms of modeling notations, generation algorithm, stopping conditions, and model completeness. To achieve the second subgoal, we have proposed a Model-Based Test scrIpt GenEration fRamework (TIGER), based on GW, to generate system-level test artifacts (i.e., test cases and test scripts). Based on the proposed framework, we implemented two test script generation tools for combinatorial testing (CT) and MBT. Finally, to achieve the last subgoal, we performed a comparative analysis between test suites developed using MBT, CT, and manual industrial practices. 

The results showed that the MBT-generated test suites using the edge coverage criterion tend to cover each requirement multiple times while achieving the same level of requirement coverage as the manually written test suites. Moreover, MBT provided higher Modified Decision and Condition Coverage (MC/DC) than CT and manual testing. On the other hand, CT came out as the most efficient technique in terms of the time required to generate and execute tests as well as achieving the highest fault detection rate with 3-ways and 4-ways interaction strength. Hence, based on the results, we conclude that manual industrial testing will benefit from MBT and CT for improved coverage and fault detection.

Abstract [sv]

Testning på systemnivå av säkerhetskritiska inbyggda system är komplext och kostsamt. MBT har visat lovande resultat när det gäller feldetekteringseffektivitet och effektivitet i testgenerering och testutförande. Den industriella utvecklingen av MBT-metoder är dock långsam och begränsad till specifika branscher och domäner. Dessutom måste styrkorna och svagheterna hos MBT i industriella miljöer utvärderas noggrant för att hitta en optimal teststrategi.

Syftet med denna avhandling är att anpassa, jämföra och utvärdera effektiviteten hos MBT för att hjälpa industriutövare att testa säkerhetskritisk inbyggd programvara. Vi har delat in detta mål i tre delmål. För att uppnå det första delmålet har vi utforskat flera av de främsta MBT-verktygen och utvärderat det valda verktyget, GraphWalker (GW), i termer av modelleringsnotationer, genereringsalgoritm, stoppförhållanden och modellfullständighet. För att uppnå det andra delmålet har vi föreslagit ett Model-Based Test ScrIpt Generation Framework (TIGER), baserat på GW, för att generera testartefakter på systemnivå (d.v.s. testfall och testskript). Baserat på det föreslagna ramverket implementerade vi två testskriptgenereringsverktyg för kombinatorisk testning (CT) och MBT. Slutligen, för att uppnå det sista delmålet, utförde vi en jämförande analys mellan testsviter utvecklade med MBT, CT och manuell industriell praxis.

Resultaten visade att de MBT-genererade testsviterna som använder kanttäckningskriteriet tenderar att täcka varje krav flera gånger samtidigt som de uppnår samma nivå av kravtäckning som de manuellt skrivna testsviterna. Dessutom gav MBT högre Modified Decision and Condition Coverage (MC/DC) än CT och manuell testning. Å andra sidan kom CT ut som den mest effektiva tekniken när det gäller den tid som krävs för att generera och utföra tester samt att uppnå den högsta feldetekteringshastigheten med 3-vägs och 4-vägs interaktionsstyrka. Baserat på resultaten drar vi därför slutsatsen att manuell industriell testning kommer att dra nytta av MBT och CT för förbättrad täckning och feldetektering.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Västerås: Mälardalens universitet, 2022
Series
Mälardalen University Press Licentiate Theses, ISSN 1651-9256 ; 328
National Category
Computer and Information Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-59792 (URN)978-91-7485-560-9 (ISBN)
Presentation
2022-10-03, Alfa, Mälardalens Universitet, Västerås, 13:15 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2022-08-25 Created: 2022-08-24 Last updated: 2022-11-08Bibliographically approved

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Zafar, Muhammad NoumanAfzal, WasifEnoiu, Eduard Paul

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