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Standard software testing might not catch important defects, and formal methods can be difficult to use. But, there's a middle ground between the two. This middle ground involves adding five steps to standard testing and employing test randomization, model-based testing, and a more aggressive use of assertions (also called self-tests). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on the role of traceability in establishing evidence regarding the hazards and risks related to specifications and implementations of safety critical software devices such as pacemakers and train signals. Topics discussed include strategic practices to provide cost-effective support to evaluate a system's safety, traceability standards in safety-critical projects and analysis of traceability project documents by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for medical devices.

The article focuses on the need of statistical model checking (SMC) of safety-critical softwares to validate software reliability at an early stage. It mentions that the softwares should be checked to prevent the propagation of reliability allocation errors and design errors at later stages. It further discusses a case study related to SMC of fault-tolerant fuel control system (FFCS) a safety-critical component of an automobile's engine controller.

The article offers information related to the DO-178C, software considerations in airborne systems and equipment certification document published by Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) Inc. in 2011. It discusses the testing-based verification activities under the DO-178C which includes two processes that involves requirements-based and structural coverage analyses.

The article focuses on the role of model-driven approaches in the development of high-quality and cost effective safety-critical software for air traffic control (ATC). Topics discussed include interoperability of the model driven architecture (MDA) development paradigm, integration of MDA into the verification and validation (V-model) and MDA and Model-Driven testing in a V-Model.