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Modeling System Architectures Using the Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL) - eLearning

Modeling and validating quality attributes for real-time, embedded systems is often done with low-fidelity software models and disjointed architectural specifications by various engineers using their own specialized notations. These models are typically not maintained or analyzed throughout the lifecycle, making it difficult to predict the impact of system design changes, especially on attributes that cut across system functionality. Consequently, the unanticipated effects of design approaches or changes are discovered late in the lifecycle, when they are much more expensive to resolve.

A model-based engineering (MBE) approach offers a more effective way to develop, design, analyze, and maintain a system architecture. Through the application of MBE supported by system design and analysis tools, system architects and developers can

  • reduce risk through early and repeated analysis of the system architecture
  • reduce cost through fewer system integration problems and simplified lifecycle support
  • assess system-wide impacts of architectural choices early in the life-cycle
  • increase confidence since assumptions made in modeling can be validated through virtual integration of all or part of the operational system before system implementation

Audience

  • software/system architects and developers who are considering options for engineering embedded, real-time systems
  • individuals tasked with the validation of embedded, real-time system performance
  • technical managers, managers, and software/system architects who are looking for a solid overview of system and software modeling
  • individuals who make decisions about the development or acquisition of real-time, embedded systems

Objectives

After successful completion of this course you will have an understanding of the

  • value of MBE for system development in your application domain
  • fundamental MBE concepts, specifically key engineering principles and methods
  • alternative choices for representation and modeling
  • core elements of the AADL modeling language
  • modeling and analysis of embedded software systems using MBE, the AADL, and OSATE toolkit
  • quantitative validation of quality attributes through analysis of system architectures
  • concepts, key principles, methods, and value of Architecture-Centric Virtual Integration Practices (ACVIP) for system development

Topics

The course focuses on fundamental MBE concepts for engineering real-time, embedded software systems through defining and documenting the software and system architecture and validating system quality attributes (also referred to as non-functional properties). The course builds on the SAE Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL) standard (AS-5506) for engineering real-time, embedded software systems. The lectures are designed to address the core aspects of AADL, which include language syntax and semantics, constructing modeling views and invoking various analysis tools appropriate to those views. The course also describes some of the modeling concepts overlap with SysML and UML and their relationship to the AADL.

The eLearning course presents learners with language and modeling topics in sessions ranging from 5 - 40 minutes. Course sessions are sequential and, at certain points in the course, the learner will independently complete hands-on exercises to construct models and analyze them within the Open Source AADL Tool Environment (OSATE). By the end of the course, the learner will construct a number of architectural views of a sample system and will be able to perform analysis across the entire model. These analyses will include weight and power allocations with respect to requirements, end to end signal flow latency based on logical and runtime deployment views with various multi-processor bindings, bus bandwidth load analysis, resource utilizations for CPUs and memory, and signal flow latency based on system operation modes.

Materials

This course is presented in the form of video instruction presented by experts from the SEI Software Solutions Division. Downloadable materials include course presentation slides, the student workbook, and installation instructions for the development environment (OSATE). Learners will also be able to access additional resources related to the subject matter.

Prerequisites

Learners should have fundamental knowledge in the areas of developing embedded real-time systems, software engineering, and architectures. Attendees should have a working knowledge of a programming language and familiarity with a modeling language and the concept of abstraction. A working knowledge of the Eclipse environment is helpful.

To access the SEI Learning Portal, your computer must have the following:

  • For optimum viewing, we recommend using the following browsers: Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari
  • These browsers are supported on the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows 8 (or higher), OSX (Last two major releases), Most Linux Distributions
  • Mobile Operating Systems: iOS 9, Android 6.0
  • Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Safari follow a continuous release policy that makes difficult to fix a minimum version. For this reason, following the market recommendation we will support the last 2 major version of each of these browsers. Please note that as of January 2018, we do not support Safari on Windows.

This is an eLearning course.

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Course Fees [USD]

  • eLearning: $1,250.00

Schedule

Your access period will begin once you have been added to the SEI Learning Portal and launch the course.

The course contains more than 10 hours of video-recorded instructor lecture and 3 hours of demonstration and instruction for installing and using tools from SEI experts, supplemented by guided exercises and expert solutions.

Learners can proceed through the course at their convenience and can review and repeat course sessions as often as needed. Learners will have one year to complete the course. Upon completing all course elements, the learner is awarded an electronic certificate of course completion.

The textbook, Model-Based Engineering with AADL: An Introduction to the SAE Architecture Analysis & Design Language (SEI Series in Software Engineering) is available and can serve as an additional source of supplementary information. The textbook can be purchased in both printed and electronic forms from many commercial booksellers as well as the publisher, Informit.

If you wish to purchase this course for a group of learners, please email courseregistration@sei.cmu.edu or telephone at +1 412-268-7388 for group rate details.

Course Questions?

Email: course-info@sei.cmu.edu
Phone: 412-268-7388

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Training courses provided by the SEI are not academic courses for academic credit toward a degree. Any certificates provided are evidence of the completion of the courses and are not official academic credentials. For more information about SEI training courses, see Registration Terms and Conditions and Confidentiality of Course Records.