ADVANCE · Addressing Verification and Validation Challenges in Future Cyber-Physical Systems

The scientific objective of the ADVANCE project is to conceive new approaches to support the Verification and Validation (V&V) of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). It will explore techniques, methods, and tools applicable to different phases of the system lifecycle, but always with the final objective of improving the effectiveness and efficacy of the V&V process. In particular, ADVANCE will focus on two main aspects of V&V: i) techniques to collect V&V evidences for a CPS (focusing on system modeling, testing, fault forecast, and systematic processes like FMEA), and ii) techniques to manage and analyze data of the system under analysis (focusing on data analysis, requirements management, traceability).The strategic objective of the project is to build an international network of collaborations on the topic of V&V of CPSs. Besides allowing the consortium to reach the project’s scientific objectives, the established interactions would allow the training of students and professionals on the latest innovations in the V&V panorama, and have them work together towards a common goal. In fact, besides the technical challenges described above, an important factor hampering advancements in the V&V of CPSs is a worldwide lack of skilled professionals in V&V, software testing, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in general. One of the outputs of the project will be a set of training material, both in the form of slides and video courses, on the topic of Verification & Validation of Cyber-Physical Systems. These objectives will be pursued by joining together V&V experts having different specialization and different backgrounds, and establishing a targeted transfer of knowledge and collaboration program, using two real case studies as reference throughout the project.