2 research outputs found
A systematic approach to model-based engineering of cyber-physical systems of systems
PhD ThesisThis thesis describes and evaluates methods for the model-based engineering of Systems of Systems
(SoSs) where constituents comprise both computational and physical elements typical of Cyber-Physical
Systems (CPSs). Such Cyber-Physical Systems of Systems (CPSoSs) use sensors and actuators to link
the digital and physical worlds, and are composed of operationally and managerially independent constituent systems that interact to deliver an emerging service on which reliance is placed.
The engineering of CPSoSs requires a combination of techniques associated with both CPS engineering
and SoS engineering. Model-based SoS engineering techniques address organisation and integration
of diverse systems through the use of disciplined architectural frameworks and contractual modelling
approaches. Advances in model-based CPS engineering address the additional challenges of integrating
semantically heterogeneous models of discrete and continuous phenomena. This thesis combines these
approaches to develop a coherent framework for the model-based engineering of CPSoSs.
The proposed approach utilises architectural frameworks to aid in the development of rich abstract
models of CPSoSs. This is accompanied by the specification of an automated transformation process to
generate heterogeneous co-models based on the architectural description. Verification of the proposed
engineering approach is undertaken by its application to a case study describing the control of trains over
a section of rail network, in which the (cyber) behaviour of control infrastructure must be considered
in conjunction with the (physical) dynamics of train movements. Using the proposed methods, the
development of this CPSoS uses architectural descriptions to generate an executable model to enable
the analysis of safety and efficiency implications of the implemented control logic.
The utility of the approach is evaluated by consideration of the impact of the proposed techniques
on advancing the suitability and maturity of baseline technologies for the engineering of CPSoS. It is
concluded that the proposed architectural framework provides effective guidance for the production of
rich architectural descriptions of CPSoSs, and that the conversion between architectural and executable
models is viable for implementation in a suitable open tools framework
Collaborative development of embedded systems
This chapter presents motivation for taking a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach to the model-based development of embedded systems. Starting from a consideration of the ubiquity of embedded systems in daily life it identifies challenges faced by industry in developing products in a timely manner, but to sufficient quality to merit the reliance of their users. Using a fictional story of product development, it presents the perspectives of both the control engineer and the software designer. We describe an approach—realised using the Crescendo tool—that promotes collaborative modelling and co-simulation, taking account of existing technology and current industry practic