Automatic Test Generation for Space

TL;DR

This paper explores automatic test generation techniques for C++ simulators used in space operations, aiming to replace manual scripting with automated testing tools to improve efficiency and reliability.

Contribution

It proposes a system that leverages automatic testing approaches tailored to the needs of space simulation software, addressing a specific industry requirement.

Findings

Analyzed existing automatic testing tools for C++

Designed a prototype system for space simulator testing

Demonstrated potential efficiency improvements in testing process

Abstract

The European Space Agency (ESA) uses an engine to perform tests in the Ground Segment infrastructure, specially the Operational Simulator. This engine uses many different tools to ensure the development of regression testing infrastructure and these tests perform black-box testing to the C++ simulator implementation. VST (VisionSpace Technologies) is one of the companies that provides these services to ESA and they need a tool to infer automatically tests from the existing C++ code, instead of writing manually scripts to perform tests. With this motivation in mind, this paper explores automatic testing approaches and tools in order to propose a system that satisfies VST needs.