Design Verification through Function- and Behavior-Oriented Representations

Abstract

This paper focuses on the task of design verification using both knowledge of the structure of a device and its intended functions. In particular, it addresses the question of when one can say a behavior predicted by a prediction system achieves the desired function in the manner intended by the designer. We use Functional Representation (Sembugamoorthy & Chandrasekaran 1986) to represent the function of a device and the expected causal mechanism for achieving it. We present a formal definition of matching between a system trajectory generated by a simulation system and the description of a causal process to achieve a function expressed in Functional Representation. We demonstrate behavior verification based on the definition, using two predicted behaviors of the electrical power system of a satellite. We believe that evaluating a behavior with respect to the expected causal process as well as the function improves the chances of uncovering hidden flaws in a design that may otherwise go undetected at an early stage.