ATAC - Advanced Test Automation for Complex Software-Intensive Systems

Important results from the project

Ericsson had from the start of ATAC developed a well-established test automation execution. Because of this, Ericsson has focused on understanding test automation from a life-cycle perspective, to be able to identify areas where new method can be applied to increase the test efficiency. At the same time we have transferred to an agile process, which impacts the test automation. The goal is not only to automate, but to better understand variants of how to implement the automation of test and how this impacts the efficiency.

Expected long term effects

Ericsson has developed an improvement model for test automation. Our model identifies impediments and difficulties within test automation based on measurements. By comparing test code with source code we have identified new areas within test automation e.g. test architecture and ways of working with test automation in the agile process. We have applied new approaches through utilizing state of the art technology such as search-based techniques in our test suites, but also examined automatic program repair.

Approach and implementation

The main goal in the ATAC project is with advanced method and increased automation be able to create, conduct and exploit new innovations to improve test and validation of the system. Ericsson has already much experience of test automation of e.g. execution and modelling and has specifically looked at new area to improve the efficiency, e.g. through search based methods. We have had successful insights contributing to new ways of working, where we have implemented our research results in the software production.