Integrating existing proprietary system models into a model-driven test process for an industrial automation scenario

Abstract

The introduction of modern model-driven software development methodologies into the industrial practise still proves to be a challenge. Especially small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need an incremental and continuous modernisation process, which incorporates existing projects, is customised and cost-effective. Particularly, suitable solutions for model-based or -driven testing with test automation to increase the efficiency are in demand. This paper presents an approach for integrating existing proprietary system models of an SME partner for describing industrial automation processes into a model-driven test process, utilising a domain-specific language for the test specification. The test objectives focuses on the correct implementation of the communication and synchronisation of distributed state machines. The presented approach is integrated into a test framework, which is based on the Eclipse Modelling Framework (EMF) and the Eclipse Test and Performance Tools Platform Project (TPTP) framework. To separate the possibly changeable system and DSL-specific models from the implementation of the test framework, a stable and more generic test meta model was defined.