Static WCET analysis for ARM

aiT WCET Analyzer for ARM statically computes tight upper bounds for the worst-case execution time of tasks in safety-critical applications written or generated in C, C++ or Ada and compiled to run on ARM processors.

Your benefits

• The static analysis guarantees that the computed WCET bounds are valid for all possible inputs, all possible cache and pipeline states, and each task execution under any circumstances. No testing or measuring required.
• aiT directly analyzes binary executables, exactly as they are executed in the final system. It requires no mod­i­fi­cation of your system’s operational behavior or performance, and no modification of your toolchain.
• aiT-computed bounds are extremely tight and thus reflect the ac­tu­al performance of your system. Deadline adherence is ensured without wasting hardware re­sources.
• aiT lets you easily save and compare the analysis results before and after making changes to your system, such that their effect on the worst-case timing can be understood immediately and completely.
• Using aiT is essential in meeting current safety standards such as ISO 26262 and DO-178B/C, where static WCET analysis is part of the architec­tural safety requirements.

Key features

• Fast analysis of complex real-world software
• Dead code recognition
• GUI and command-line mode
• Customizable XML reports
• Integration with TargetLink and Jenkins
• Qualification Support Kits

Supported processor derivates

• ARM7TDMI
• ARM720T (Sharp LH79520)
• ARM Cortex-M0 (STM32F0DISCOVERY)
• ARM Cortex-M1 (Milandr 1986VE1T)
• ARM Cortex-M3 (e.g. STM32F103xx)
• ARM Cortex-M4 (Infineon XMC4500)
• ARM Cortex-R4F (TI TMS570LS3137)
• ARM Cortex-R4F LCR
• ARM Cortex-R5F (TI TMS570LC4357)

The standard license only covers one derivate of your choice. Additional derivates can be unlocked for a surcharge.

For Cortex-A53, we recommend using TimeWeaver that combines static analysis with real-time instruction-level tracing. Likewise for Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ implementations that offer an ETM tracing interface. This hybrid approach is compliant with CAST-32A and EASA AMC 20-193.

For other derivates not listed above, write to info@absint.com.

Timing profiling for Cortex in early stages of development

In order to provide WCET guarantees, aiT for ARM formally models the exact processor model your application is executed on.

If you are planning on using Cortex but haven’t yet picked a specific derivate — or if the final pick is not yours to make —, you can nonetheless benefit from static analysis to develop your application in a timing-conscious way, from day one.

For this, you can use the fully-integrated TimingProfiler. It will help you identify application parts that will cause unsatisfactory execution times regardless of the specific make of the Cortex processor you end up using.

Once the hardware has been decided on, you can then easily switch from TimingProfiler to aiT, within the same GUI, keeping all your settings and annotations, and without having to install anything.

Supported compilers

• ARM Developer Suite C/C++ compiler
• The formally verified CompCert compiler
• GNU C/C++ compiler (GCC)
• Green Hills MULTI for ARM (C, C++ or Ada)
• IAR C/C++ compiler
• KEIL MDK-ARM C/C++ compiler suite
• HighTec LLVM
• Other LLVM/Clang-based ARM compilers
• Tasking C/C++ compiler
• Texas Instruments C/C++ compiler
• Wind River Diab C/C++ compiler

The standard license only covers one compiler of your choice. Additional compilers can be unlocked for a surcharge.

System requirements

• Windows: 64-bit Windows 10 or newer
• Linux: 64-bit CentOS/RHEL 7 or compatible
• 4 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)
• 4 GB of disk space
• The Linux version requires the libxcb-* family of libraries to be installed
• Support for macOS High Sierra 10.13 or newer is possible on request for a surcharge

Independent reviews

• aiT for ARM7:
  • aiT vs. ARMulator tests by Mälardalen University
  • WCET Tool Challenge 2006 (PDF)
  • WCET Tool Challenge 2011 (PDF)
  • 2011 Comparison of WCET Tools by University of Stuttgart (PDF)
• aiT for ARM Cortex-M4:
  • 2017 Study by University of Erlangen–Nuremberg (PDF)
  • 2018 Review by McGill University (PDF)

Latest improvements

Qualification support

Your usage of aiT for ARM can be qualified according to ISO 26262, DO-178B/C, and other safety standards. We offer Qualification Support Kits that help you simplify and automate your qualification process:

• Board-specific base QSKs
• Optional compiler-specific add-on QSKs for:
  • GCC 4.7.4
  • GCC 4.9.3
  • KEIL 5.02.0.28
  • TI 4.9.1
  • TI 20.2.1.lts

Compiler-specific QSKs for other compilers can be developed on request.

Also available

• StackAnalyzer for ARM
• ValueAnalyzer for ARM
• TimingProfiler for Cortex
• TimeWeaver for ARM

Free trial

You can try aiT for free, on your own applications, for a period of 30 days. The free license covers:

• One supported target processor of your choice
• Any number of supported compilers
• More than one physical machine if needed, but no VMs
• Windows, Linux, or both
• The ValueAnalyzer add-on, and also StackAnalyzer if you wish

Request your free trial package today, complete with free online training and tech support.