Paul Butcher
- UK Programme Manager and Head of Dynamic Analysis
- AdaCore, UK
Paul is the UK Programme Manager, Head of Dynamic Analysis for AdaCore, and the Lead Engineer for GNATfuzz. He has over 25 years of experience in developing and verifying embedded safety-critical real-time systems. Before joining AdaCore, Paul was a consultant engineer, working for UK aerospace companies such as Leonardo Helicopters, BAE Systems, Thales UK, and QinetiQ. Before becoming a consultant, Paul worked as a Software Developer and Safety Engineer for the Typhoon platform, safety-critical automated train driving software, military UAVs, the Tactical Processor for the Wildcat platform, and mission planning systems for Typoon, EH101, and Wildcat. Paul graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Computing and a Higher National Diploma in Software Engineering.
Sessions
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Digitalisation and New Tools for Testing and Certification
The evolving landscape and digitalisation of avionics hardware and software testing and certification brings opportunities, but also challenges. Staff shortages and the need for skilled engineers with digital capabilities are significant concerns, as well as there is a growing interest in model-based approaches and alternative languages. Addressing these challenges requires effective training programs and strategies to attract new talent. The digital transformation of avionics testing necessitates a proactive approach to workforce development and the adoption of advanced testing methodologies, such as testing for data leaks and exploring the potential of virtual health monitoring or formalising Human Machine Interface (HMI) certification in the context of avionics systems. It is essential to invest in innovative testing tools, methodologies and digitisation to ensure the safety and reliability of software systems.