A framework for Model-Driven Engineering of resilient software-controlled systems

AbstractEmergent paradigms of Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things expect cyber-physical systems to reliably provide services overcoming disruptions in operative conditions and adapting to changes in architectural and functional requirements. In this paper, we describe a hardware/software framework supporting operation and maintenance of software-controlled systems enhancing resilience by promoting a Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) process to automatically derive structural configurations and failure models from reliability artifacts. Specifically, a reflective architecture developed around digital twins enables representation and control of system Configuration Items properly derived from SysML Block Definition Diagrams, providing support for variation. Besides, a plurality of distributed analytic agents for qualitative evaluation over executable failure models empowers the system with runtime self-assessment and dynamic adaptation capabilities. We describe the framework architecture outlining roles and responsibilities in a System of Systems perspective, providing salient design traits about digital twins and data analytic agents for failure propagation modeling and analysis. We discuss a prototype implementation following the MDE approach, highlighting self-recovery and self-adaptation properties on a real cyber-physical system for vehicle access control to Limited Traffic Zones

Increase the adoption of Agent-based Cyber-Physical Production Systems through the Design of Minimally Invasive Solutions

During the last few years, many approaches were proposed to offer companies the ability to have dynamic and flexible production systems. One of the conventional ap-proaches to solving this problem is the implementation of cyber-physical production sys-tems using multi-agent distributed systems. Although these systems can deal with several challenges faced by companies in this area, they have not been accepted and used in real cases. In this way, the primary objective of the proposed work is to understand the chal-lenges usually found in the adoption of these solutions and to develop a strategy to in-crease their acceptance and implementation. Thus, the document focuses on the design and development of cyber-physical produc-tion systems based on agent approaches, requiring minimal changes in the existing pro-duction systems. This approach aims of reducing the impact and the alterations needed to adopt those new cyber-physical production systems. Clarifying the subject, the author presents a definition of a minimal invasive agent-based cyber-physical production system and, the functional requirements that the designers and developers must respect to imple-ment the new software. From these functional requirements derived a list of design princi-ples that must be fulfilled to design and develop a system with these characteristics. Subsequently, to evaluate solutions that aim to be minimally invasive, an evaluation model based on a fuzzy inference system is proposed, which rank the approaches accord-ing to each of the design principles and globally. In this way, the proposed work presents the functional requirements, design principles and evaluation model of minimally invasive cyber-physical production systems, to increase the adoption of such systems

Toward High-Performance Computing and Big Data Analytics Convergence: The Case of Spark-DIY

Convergence between high-performance computing (HPC) and big data analytics (BDA) is currently an established research area that has spawned new opportunities for unifying the platform layer and data abstractions in these ecosystems. This work presents an architectural model that enables the interoperability of established BDA and HPC execution models, reflecting the key design features that interest both the HPC and BDA communities, and including an abstract data collection and operational model that generates a unified interface for hybrid applications. This architecture can be implemented in different ways depending on the process- and data-centric platforms of choice and the mechanisms put in place to effectively meet the requirements of the architecture. The Spark-DIY platform is introduced in the paper as a prototype implementation of the architecture proposed. It preserves the interfaces and execution environment of the popular BDA platform Apache Spark, making it compatible with any Spark-based application and tool, while providing efficient communication and kernel execution via DIY, a powerful communication pattern library built on top of MPI. Later, Spark-DIY is analyzed in terms of performance by building a representative use case from the hydrogeology domain, EnKF-HGS. This application is a clear example of how current HPC simulations are evolving toward hybrid HPC-BDA applications, integrating HPC simulations within a BDA environment.This work was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under Grant TIN2016-79637-P(toward Unification of HPC and Big Data Paradigms), in part by the Spanish Ministry of Education under Grant FPU15/00422 TrainingProgram for Academic and Teaching Staff Grant, in part by the Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Office of Science, U.S.Department of Energy, under Contract DE-AC02-06CH11357, and in part by the DOE with under Agreement DE-DC000122495,Program Manager Laura Biven

Crypto Assets for Wealth Management: an Analysis of the Financial System and Private Bankers' Clientele

We have already started experiencing the transformations brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by breakthroughs in the digital, physical and biological fields occurring in an exponential speed. This new chapter brings complex advances and innovations, which not only show evolution in the production system, but are merging in a promising way for maximizing our quality of life and creating opportunities of universal impact for authorities, managers, leaders, and citizens of all backgrounds. In the set of key technological innovations, projects challenging the traditional economic model are emerging fast, with their essence being Bitcoin and its underlying network, blockchain. The objective was to analyze the feasibility of their implementation, investment ideas and consumer adoption, based on their performance, reliability, risks, and legal compliance. A qualitative approach was conducted as a mono method. Data was collected through archival research, action research and grounded theory, aimed at finding definitions for the Bitcoin and blockchain related concepts, as well as their industry, latest updates, and policy making. The same strategies were followed for describing the market demand and consumer approaching dynamics. The outcome reflects mostly upsides on the performance of Bitcoin in recent times, though indicating that it is not a safe haven asset and that immediate applicability is not a prospect, whereas future implementation could be practical in various levels of the financial system. The technologies’ promising future suggests a positive scenario for investments now, being taken into account the contemplation of their high-risk nature. The discussion and future recommendations include exploring outside-in marketing approach strategies

Participatory research in complex marine conservation settings: A review of recent trends and lessons for the future

The conservation of marine ecosystems and species is inherently complex, plagued by social, political, economic and ecological uncertainty. Navigating these challenges to sustain marine systems requires the understanding, consideration and uptake of multiple knowledge systems within decision-making processes. Participatory research approaches, such as knowledge co-production, are advocated given their potential to generate knowledge with those who are most affected by the issue at hand and, based on that knowledge, develop and implement meaningful conservation practices collaboratively. In doing so participatory research is positioned to make marine research more democratic and impactful, and as such, has been a field of growing research enquiry. The aim of this study, therefore, is to synthesise (via a systematic scoping review) the existing literature to generate guidance that can help researchers and practitioners plan and apply participatory research approaches in a complex marine context. Results from systematically identifying and analyzing 337 articles show that the implementation of participatory research approaches are most common in the global north. Participatory research approaches most frequently included representatives from government, industry and civil society (e.g. community groups), while indigenous groups and communities were rarely included. A diversity of participatory research approaches have been used in relation to marine conservation in different settings and at various stages of the participatory process, each with their own challenges and benefits, that can lead to either positive outcomes for actors (e.g. social learning) or negative outcomes (e.g. disempowerment). We draw on our findings to provide guidance for improving the implementation of participatory research approaches in marine conservation such as taking the time to understand context before commencing participatory research approaches, and ensuring transparency with all actors throughout the process. We highlight key implications for researcher and practitioners implementing participatory research approaches including the importance of a diversity of approaches and methods to ensure access, supporting two way communication, addressing power imbalances, and the need to recognise, report on and address pre-existing barriers. Many of these require greater investment in terms of money or personnel, and new funding models are needed with a focus on longevity and sustainability

Multi-Agent Systems and Complex Networks: Review and Applications in Systems Engineering

Systems engineering is an ubiquitous discipline of Engineering overlapping industrial, chemical, mechanical, manufacturing, control, software, electrical, and civil engineering. It provides tools for dealing with the complexity and dynamics related to the optimisation of physical, natural, and virtual systems management. This paper presents a review of how multi-agent systems and complex networks theory are brought together to address systems engineering and management problems. The review also encompasses current and future research directions both for theoretical fundamentals and applications in the industry. This is made by considering trends such as mesoscale, multiscale, and multilayer networks along with the state-of-art analysis on network dynamics and intelligent networks. Critical and smart infrastructure, manufacturing processes, and supply chain networks are instances of research topics for which this literature review is highly relevant

Continuous monitoring of tree responses to climate change for smart forestry: a cybernetic web of trees

6openBothTrees are long-lived organisms that contribute to forest development over centuries and beyond. However, trees are vulnerable to increasing natural and anthropic disturbances. Spatially distributed, continuous data are required to predict mortality risk and impact on the fate of forest ecosystems. In order to enable monitoring over sensitive and often remote forest areas that cannot be patrolled regularly, early warning tools/platforms of mortality risk need to be established across regions. Although remote sensing tools are good at detecting change once it has occurred, early warning tools require ecophysiological information that is more easily collected from single trees on the ground. Here, we discuss the requirements for developing and implementing such a treebased platform to collect and transmit ecophysiological forest observations and environmental measurements from representative forest sites, where the goals are to identify and to monitor ecological tipping points for rapid forest decline. Long-term monitoring of forest research plots will contribute to better understanding of disturbance and the conditions that precede it. International networks of these sites will provide a regional view of susceptibility and impacts and would play an important role in ground-truthing remotely sensed data.openTognetti, Roberto; Valentini, Riccardo; Belelli Marchesini, Luca; Gianelle, Damiano; Panzacchi, Pietro; Marshall, John D.Tognetti, R.; Valentini, R.; Belelli Marchesini, L.; Gianelle, D.; Panzacchi, P.; Marshall, J.D