Formal methods are a set of rigorous approaches used to design, develop, specify, analyze, verify and validate software systems and hardware designs. These systems are often used in critical applications, such as embedded systems, that must be safe, secure, and reliable. Formal methods have been used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, banking, medical, railway, and telecommunications.
The formal methods approach is based on mathematically-based logic and heavily promotes the use of software to automate the methods. This helps to reduce the cost of design and verify the systems by reducing the need for manual checks. In addition, many formal methods are accompanied by rigorous proofs, allowing a designer to be sure that a system conforms to its specifications.
Formal methods have traditionally relied on logical specification languages that allow for multiple perspectives to be considered when designing a system. These include temporal, modal, and functional languages. Examples of this type of specification language include Z, VDM, CSP, B, CCS, Estelle and Lutess.
While formal methods have become increasingly popular for embedded system design, they have come with both benefits and drawbacks. One benefit is their ability to increase engineering efficacy as many aspects of the verification process are automated. However, formal methods tend to be both time-consuming and expensive due to the resources required to develop and verify the software. In addition, they require a significant learning curve and highly skilled personnel to implement.
Overall, formal methods are proving to be a powerful tool for designing complex, mission-critical systems. As computing technology continues to evolve and become increasingly complex, this type of approach will be important for ensuring that the systems continue to be safe, secure, and reliable.
