Applying Verification and Validation to Automotive Software Development

Verification and validation (V&V) has been successfully applied to military and man-rated systems. Since 1987, V&V has been incorporated into medical device software development. Yielding reduced-defect software, V&V's application to automotive software is being considered with the goals of improving safety and reducing the recall rate. This paper examines the lessons learned from medical device V&V and ways these can be applied to automotive software development. It approaches these issues from a development manager's viewpoint, considering the pragmatics of implementing a V&V program. Key elements and factors that should be viewed as indicators for increasing the level of verification are examined, organizational structuring to handle independent V&V discussed and the cost-effectiveness of V&V detailed.