AI-driven testing of C/C++ based safety-critical autopilot software

Parasoft has announced an innovative collaboration with Ribbit to transform air cargo deliveries to remote areas for civilian, defence, and humanitarian applications. Instead of building new autonomous aircraft from the ground up, Ribbit has embraced a unique 'software-first' strategy that focuses on retrofitting existing, small, and affordable aircraft with autonomous autopilot software and ruggedised, off-the-shelf hardware. The core autonomy stack, which was developed in C++ for maximum control and safety-critical reliability, is bolstered by its use of Parasoft's comprehensive test automation solutions for C/C++ software development.

"Ribbit's partnership with Parasoft is a cornerstone of our development strategy by empowering our engineers to standardise coding practices and deliver consistent product quality," said Carl Pigeon, co-founder and CEO of Ribbit. "It is also beneficial for onboarding new employees more effectively. In particular, Parasoft's static analysis tools are like a personal tutor that sets the benchmark for Ribbit's code quality."

In proving its systems are safe to fly without pilots in the world's most challenging environments, the company selected Parasoft C/C++ test to support fast-paced, iterative design and prototype cycles, along with the safety benefits of DO-178C and JSF coding standards. Aviation authorities, such as Transport Canada, are assured that its retrofitted systems are safe despite the regulatory uncertainty for unmanned aircraft. Parasoft's static analysis and compliance capabilities also enforce MISRA and JSF rules early in development, empowering engineers to find and fix coding issues as early as possible.

Equally important is a 'proven with use' approach that Ribbit employs to test autonomy using onboard safety pilots before progressing to remotely supervised flights under Canada's Special Flight Operating Certificate (SFOC). This allows engineers to gather real-world data while maintaining operational flexibility.

Parasoft's deep expertise in aerospace and civil aviation, combined with TÜV SÜD certification and seamless integration with existing workflows, ensures coding standards are enforced, allowing the company to focus on autonomy and compliance. Parasoft C/C++test offers more than just compliance checking, as engineers take advantage of the VS Code plugin to catch issues in real-time without context switching. Moreover, the AI-powered violation triaging helps prioritise the most critical fixes, which is crucial for a team juggling multiple requirements. With Parasoft C/C++test CT, it also achieves 90-95% test coverage through continuous integration pipelines that blend test execution with their simulation environments.

"Ribbit is a great example of how innovative aerospace companies can move quickly without compromising safety by integrating Parasoft static analysis into their CI workflow," said Ricardo Camacho, director of product strategy, Embedded and Safety-Critical Compliance, Parasoft. "When demonstrating their systems to Transport Canada, for instance, Ribbit could easily point to their Parasoft-verified processes as evidence of rigorous development, even before formal certification."