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Early-stage analysis of cyber-physical production systems through collaborative modelling

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Abstract

This paper demonstrates the flexible methodology of modelling cyber-physical systems (CPSs) using the INTO-CPS technology through co-simulation based on Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs). It explores a novel method with two main co-simulation phases: homogeneous and heterogeneous. In the first phase, high-level, abstract FMUs are produced for all subsystems using a single discrete-event formalism (the VDM-RT language and Overture tool). This approach permits early co-simulation of system-level behaviours and serves as a basis for dialogue between subsystem teams and agreement on interfaces. During the second phase, model refinements of subsystems are gradually introduced, using various simulation tools capable of exporting FMUs. This heterogeneous phase permits high-fidelity models of all subsystems to be produced in appropriate formalisms. This paper describes the use of this methodology to develop a USB stick production line, representing a smart system of systems. The experiments are performed under the assumption that the orders are received in a Gaussian or Uniform distribution. The focus is on the homogeneous co-simulation phase, for which the method demonstrates two important roles: first, the homogeneous phase identifies the right interaction protocols (signals) among the various subsystems, and second, the conceptual (system-level) parameters identified before the heterogeneous co-simulation phase reduce the huge size of the design space and create stable constraints, later reflected in the physical implementation.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported through the DiFiCIL Project (Contract No. 69/08.09.2016, ID P_37_771, web: http://dificil.grants.ulbsibiu.ro) co-funded by ERDF through the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014–2020, iPP4CPPS project (Horizon 2020, Grant Agreement No. 644400, Experiment No. 16-UK-GERS-01) and Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu research Grants LBUS-IRG-2018-04. A special thanks goes to the other members of the iPP4CPPS project who have advanced the production line beyond the homogeneous co-simulation, including P.G. Larsen, K. Lausdahl, C. Thule (Aarhus University); V. Ruxandu, O. Savencu, R. Simedru, M. Neamtiu (Continental Automotive Systems Sibiu); C. Kleijn (Controllab); J. Cabral, H. Pfeifer (Fortiss GmbH.); J. Fitzgerald, C. Gamble (Newcastle University); B. Pirvu, A. Butean, S. Puscasu, R. Voju, D. Halati (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu). We would also like to express our gratitude to the anonymous reviewers for their positive comments, as well as for their constructive criticism based on which we have endeavoured to improve the writing and clarity of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science and Automatic Control, Faculty of Engineering, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Bd. Victoriei nr. 10, 550024, Sibiu, Romania

    Mihai Neghina & Constantin-Bala Zamfirescu

  2. School of Computing, Urban Sciences Building, Newcastle University, 1 Science Square, Newcastle Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5TG, UK

    Ken Pierce

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  1. Mihai Neghina
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  2. Constantin-Bala Zamfirescu
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  3. Ken Pierce
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Correspondence to Mihai Neghina.

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Communicated by John Fitzgerald, Peter Larsen, and Fuyuki Ishikawa.

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Neghina, M., Zamfirescu, CB. & Pierce, K. Early-stage analysis of cyber-physical production systems through collaborative modelling. Softw Syst Model 19, 581–600 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10270-019-00753-w

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