The industry standard for static timing analysis

aiT WCET Analyzers statically compute tight bounds for the worst-case execution time (WCET) of tasks in real-time systems. They directly analyze binary executables and take the intrinsic cache and pipeline behavior into account.

aiT screenshot
aiT screenshot

The challenge

In real-time systems, timely task completion is of the essence. Each real-time task has to be completed within a specified time frame in order to ensure that the system works correctly. In other words, it is essential that the WCET of each task is known.

However, computing the WCET is a challenge:

Testing, in general, cannot show the ab­sence of errors.”

DO-178B/C

Testing by itself is not suf­ficient.”

FDA

The solution

aiT WCET Analyzers provide the solution to these problems: they statically analyze a task’s in­trinsic cache and pipeline behavior based on formal cache and pipeline mod­els. This enables correct and tight upper bounds to be computed for the worst-case execution time.

The analyzers are based on the technique of abstract interpretation. A graphical user interface supports the visualization of the worst-case program path and the interactive inspection of all pipeline and cache states at arbitrary program points.

Your benefits

Timing analysis chart: aiT results vs. Volvo’s traditional method vs. measured WCET

Volvo’s traditional method for estimating WCET
aiT analysis results
measured WCET

Who uses aiT?

aiT was originally designed in close collaboration with Airbus France. For twenty years now, it’s been used at the Toulouse plant for vali­dating the timing behavior of crit­i­cal avionics software, including the flight control software of the A380.

Daimler uses aiT in many automotive software projects, including the powertrain control system of the new Actros truck.

Vestas uses aiT for static analysis of their wind turbine control software.

OHB uses aiT in the development of software for geostationary communication satellites and satellite navigation.

MTU Friedrichshafen uses aiT to demonstrate the correctness of control software for emergency power generators in nuclear power plants.

The Technical University of Munich uses aiT in the development, testing and optimization of flight control and navigation algorithms.

NASA used aiT as an industry-standard static analysis tool for demonstrating the absence of timing-related software defects in the 2010 Toyota Unintended Acceleration Investigation.

Supported targets

aiT is available for a wide and ever-growing array of target processors and compilers.

Seamless integration into your toolchain

aiT supports tight integration with many state-of-the-art development tools, including:

aiT can also be combined with other analysis tools from AbsInt (e.g. StackAnalyzer for stack usage analysis) in the same user interface.

“aiT is very easy and straightforward to use”

“the best capabilities to resolve dynamic calls automatically”

“the most feature-complete tool”

“a clear winner in terms of additional functionality”

Comparison of WCET tools by University of Stuttgart (PDF)

Qualification support

Your usage of aiT can be qualified according to ISO 26262, DO-178B/C, and other safety standards. We offer special Qualification Support Kits that simplify and automate the qualification process. These Kits are especially popular with our customers in the avionics and automotive industries.

aiT is also available as an integral part of the SCADE develop­ment environ­ment, which is DO-178B and DO-178C quali­fied up to level A for Military and Aero­space Industries, IEC 61508 certified at SIL 3 by TÜV for Heavy Equip­ment and Energy, and EN 50128 certi­fied at SIL 4 by TÜV for Rail Transportation. Within the SCADE Suite, you’ll find aiT under the name “Timing Optimizer”.

Free 30-day trial

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