System level formal verification via model checking driven simulation

We show how by combining Explicit Model Checking techniques and simulation it is possible to effectively carry out (bounded) System Level Formal Verification of large Hybrid Systems such as those defined using model-based tools like Simulink. We use an explicit model checker (namely, CMurphi) to generate all possible (finite horizon) simulation scenarios and then optimise the simulation of such scenarios by exploiting the ability of simulators to save and restore visited states. We show feasibility of our approach by presenting experimental results on the verification of the fuel control system example in the Simulink distribution. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that (exhaustive) verification has been carried out for hybrid systems of such a size. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.