A Software Modeling Approach Based on MDA for the Brazilian Satellite Launcher
Luciana Akemi Burgareli, Selma Shin Shimizu Melnikoff, Mauricio Goncalves Vieira Ferreira · SpaceOps 2008 Conference · 2008
The purpose of this work is to define a strategy for the generation of Platform Independent Model (PIM) for the Brazilian Satellite Launcher (BSL) software, based on the Model Driven Architecture (MDA) approach.To accomplish that, a generic software model is created, using design patterns, to represent a family of satellite launcher vehicles whose characteristics are similar.From this generic model, PIMs are generated for variations of launcher vehicles, based on MDA approach, using executable UML (xUML).This strategy can contribute to the development of the software for same-family satellite launcher vehicles, as it defines a systematics for activities related to software modeling, and also allows the increase of BSL software models reuse and starts verification activity during the modeling phase.The BSL is a conventional launcher vehicle whose function is to launch to low altitude orbits, between 200 and 1000km, data collecting and remote sensing satellites, weighing between 100 and 200kg.As in the case of the BSL, space vehicle projects are usually longterm and, therefore, the replacement of obsolete technologies by more recent ones during development is likely.Also, new versions of a satellite launcher vehicle may use the software system in more modern computational platforms (hardware, operational system, language).Such replacements may lead to partial losses (models, architecture and code) or total loss of the software system, even before development is complete.This makes necessary a software development process which enables the reuse of the BSL software, regardless of changes in computational platforms and technologies.MDA is an approach of Object Management Group (OMG) which separates the system functionality specification from its implementation specification in a specific platform technology.It is a technique which, in addition to targeting reuse, places models as key factors in the software development.For the models to be reused, they must have been duly verified.The MDA approach is consistent with the idea of starting verification already in the modeling phase, through the concept of model content characterization, it can favor the verification activity.Also, the fact that the MDA approach may be based on xUML enables the start of verification during the modeling phase.Thus, this work presents a strategy to facilitate the reuse of BSL software models.A modeling approach is applied to the BSL software, using concepts of platform separation coming from MDA.A generic PIM is generated through a set of design patterns and distinct PIMs can be generated for each launcher variety using xUML.In this work, the need for a new modeling approach for the BSL software is justified.The MDA is succinctly presented, as well as MDA and critical systems related works.This work also describes the importance of starting a software verification since the modeling.The xUML and its relation to MDA and the verification of software models are also presented.