Virtual Software Execution Environments for Distributed Embedded Control Systems

The size and complexity of large-scale distributed embedded systems such as automotive and process controls have increased recently. Sophisticated systems that are safe and environmentally friendly require numerous types of sensor data, which are collected from various devices and sent to computers through networks. To develop such large-scale distributed embedded systems with high dependability and productivity, we have developed a virtual execution environment platform. This platform integrates numerous CPU simulators and various device simulators through the network and provides network-wide simulation functionalities. In this paper, we describe a fast CPU simulator and controlled object simulation for testing control software in a virtual software execution environment. The virtual environment integrates a CPU simulator and a controlled object simulator in order to test functional behaviors of embedded control software. The environment enables the developer to test control software at the same execution rate as a real system without the source codes. This is very helpful because in this industry, not all of the source codes are provided.