VaST provides tools and models for embedded systems design. Users create a software simulation based model of a system on a chip (SoC) or a portion of a system. This virtual system prototype (VSP) is initially used for quantitative architectural exploration and optimization. When finalized the virtual system prototype becomes the reference model that enables concurrent development of hardware and software.

Customers use the VaST CoMET and METeor tools — together with virtual processor, bus and peripheral models — to develop virtual system prototypes (VSPs) as early as the architecture phase of the embedded systems design. The high performance, timing accuracy, observability and controllability of virtual system prototypes make them indispensable for embedded systems design.