How is formal verification used in the design and validation of automated systems?

Formal verification is used in the design and validation of automated systems to mathematically prove that the system meets its specifications and that it will behave correctly under all possible conditions. It provides a higher level of assurance than traditional testing methods, which can only explore a limited number of scenarios. Formal verification involves creating a mathematical model of the system, including its hardware and software components, and then using formal methods, such as model checking or theorem proving, to verify that the model satisfies certain properties or requirements. Model checking involves exhaustively exploring all possible states of the system to verify that it satisfies the specified properties. Theorem proving involves using mathematical axioms and inference rules to prove that the system's behavior is consistent with its specifications. In automated systems, formal verification can be used to verify the correctness of PLC code, robot control algorithms, and safety-critical logic. For example, it can be used to prove that a PLC program will always shut down a machine safely in the event of an emergency stop or that a robot will never collide with its environment. It ensures the correctness of the design.