4. Verification and Validation of Autonomy Requirements

Verification of autonomy requirements needs to show a proof of compliance with the requirements the system can meet, i.e., each self-* objective is proven through performance of a test, analysis, inspection, or demonstration. Validation of autonomy requirements needs to demonstrate that the system pursuing a space mission accomplishes the intended self-* objectives in the intended environment (e.g., outer space or Mercury’s orbit) and under specific constraints, i.e., the system’s behavior meets the expectations defined by the autonomy requirements. However, due to their large state space, non-determinism, and the changing nature, traditional verification and validation of unmanned space systems is not adequate. This chapter reasons on the subject and presents a possible approach to verification and validation of autonomy requirements. The approach called AdaptiV uses the combination of stabilization science, HPC simulations, compositional verification, and traditional verification techniques where a self-adaptive system is linearized into stable and unstable (or adaptive) components verified separately first and then as a whole using compositional verification techniques.