Developing a Prototype of a Mechanical Ventilator Controller from Requirements to Code with ASMETA

Rigorous development processes aim to be effective in developing critical systems, especially if failures can have catastrophic consequences for humans and the environment. Such generally rely on formal methods, which guarantee, thanks their mathematical foundation, model preciseness, properties assurance. However, they are rarely adopted practice. In this paper, we report our experience using Abstract State Machine method ASMETA framework a prototype of control software MVM (Mechanical Ventilator Milano), mechanical lung ventilator that has been designed, successfully certified, deployed during COVID-19 pandemic. Due time constraints lack skills, no was applied project. here want assess feasibility (part of) by method-based approach. Our process starts from high-level specification system describe main operation modes. Then, through sequence refined models, all other requirements captured, up level C++ implementation controller is automatically generated model, tested. Along process, at each refinement level, different validation verification activities performed, proved correct previous level. By means case study, evaluate effectiveness usability