Modeling of ALFA Programs Using PVS Theorem Prover

Abstract

In safety critical software failure can have a high price. Such software should be free of errors before it is put into operation. Application of formal methods in the software development life cycle helps to ensure that the software for safety critical missions are ultra reliable. PVS theorem prover, a formal method tool, can be used for the formal verification of software in ADA language for flight software application (ALFA.). This paper describes the modeling of ALFA programs for PVS theorem prover. An ALFA2PVS translator is developed which automatically converts the software in ALFA to PVS specification. By this approach the software can be verified formally with respect to underflow/overflow errors and divide by zero conditions without the actual execution of the code.