Business

Bureau Veritas releases a guide, co-written with the CEA, for enhancing the reliability and performance of embedded software

Jan. 25 2016

Bureau Veritas, the world leader in testing, inspection and certification, announced the release of a guide co-written with CEA Tech, the technological research division of the CEA, for optimizing the development and assessment of embedded software. Entitled "Software Guidelines – Development & Assessment," the publication establishes a new standard for enhancing and verifying the reliability and performance of embedded software, spanning every phase of development from commissioning to operation.

As embedded software gradually replaces mechanical components, the "Software Guidelines – Development & Assessment" document offers a practical and easy-to-use set of best practices for software development. Presented in the form of standards, the guide outlines numerous recommendations for ensuring that development meets the two-fold requirement of optimal operability and high risk tolerance.

An option for businesses to obtain a third party certificate of conformity

Released as an open-access document on January 18, 2016, the guide applies to sectors with no obligatory existing standard in this area [car amenities (multimedia, air conditioning, etc.), robotics and smart devices (automated handling, connected bracelets and watches, etc.), defense, industrial and agricultural machines, etc.]. Businesses that are interested can obtain a compliance certificate for their embedded software, following impartial and independent conformity assessment by Bureau Veritas.

Obtained by complying with each requirement, the third party certificate of conformity confirms that the software meets all relevant recommendations. To suit the customer’s needs, certification can take place through a continuous assessment process encompassing the entire development cycle, from software design through validation.

"As the digitization of equipment continues at an increasing rate, we are currently seeing the development of more embedded software. Faced with certification costs that can sometimes reach 20% of the total development cost, it is crucial for businesses to receive strong guarantees concerning the reliability and stability of their software," asserts Franck Sadmi, Software Team Leader at Bureau Veritas

Responding to separate needs with 60 different requirements

The guide offers more than 60 different requirements that list and define current best practices. Each recommendation was validated by the Operational Safety joint working group constituted by Bureau Veritas and the CEA Tech List institute.

The requirements are ranked by level of criticality from 1 (slightly critical) to 4 (highly critical), enabling development teams to identify the most relevant requirements for their specific software. The level of criticality reflects the efforts needed to reach all target objectives. 

A guide based on several standards and the Frama-C code analysis platform

Working with CEA Tech, Bureau Veritas produced the guide by summarizing all of the best practices arising from existing standards (such as IEC 61508, IEC 62304, and DO-178). Particularly demanding, those standards apply respectively to electronic, medical and civil aviation systems.

To overcome the two-fold challenge presented by the growing complexity and criticality of software objects, Bureau Veritas turned to Frama-C technology developed by List. The code analysis platform makes it possible to analyze and verify software to make sure it meets recommended standards at optimal cost.

"With a guide adapted to the demands of critical security fields and produced using feedback from our customers, businesses can rest assured that their embedded software, development processes and usage environments meet all the functional security requirements and standards in their field," explains Franck Sadmi. "We decided to take a White Box  approach by relying on high-performance technologies (static code analysis), such as Frama-C, enabling developers to focus their efforts on identifying bugs."

Sébastien Flanc, Business Manager in the Embedded Systems Department at Sirehna, a specialist in control systems for the dynamic behavior of naval platforms, is one of the first users of the guide: "We used the principles outlined in the guide to develop several software programs and the results are conclusive," he explains."In addition to simplifying and improving development, the guide assures us that we have the confidence of an independent party, represented by a testing, inspection and certification specialist."

 

 

Press contacts

Christelle Pasquet – christelle.pasquet@fr.bureauveritas.com – + 33 (0)1 47 14 42 68

About Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has around 66,700 employees located in 1,400 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the Next 20 index.

Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI.

For more information, visit: www.bureauveritas.com

Download our free Guide

About the CEA

A leader in research, development and innovation, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux énergies alternatives – CEA) works in four major fields: defense and security, nuclear energy (fission and fusion), technological research for industry, and fundamental research (materials and life sciences). Relying on its recognized expertise, the CEA takes part in organizing and carrying out collaborative projects with numerous academic and industrial partners. 

For more information visit: www.cea.fr

CEA List, a part of the CEA Technological Research Division, carries out research on intelligent digital systems. Working on major economic and social challenges, its R&D programs concentrate on advanced manufacturing, embedded systems, ambient intelligence and ionizing radiation control for health applications. By developing advanced technologies, CEA List advances the industrial competitiveness of its partners through innovation and technology transfer initiatives. Thanks to the quality of its joint research programs, CEA List joined the Carnot Institutes network in 2006.

For more information visit: www-list.cea.fr