CIF 3: Model-Based Engineering of Supervisory Controllers

Abstract

Abstract. The engineering of supervisory controllers for large and complex cyber-physical systems requires dedicated engineering support. The Compositional Interchange Format language and toolset have been developed for this purpose. We highlight a model-based engineering framework for the engineering of supervisory controllers and explain how the CIF language and accompanying tools can be used for typical activities in that framework such as modeling, supervisory control synthesis, simulationbased validation, verification, and visualization, real-time testing, and code generation. We mention a number of case studies for which this approach was used in the recent past. We discuss future developments on the level of language and tools as well as research results that may be integrated in the longer term.

Supervisory Controller Synthesis for Product Lines Using CIF 3

“…This toolset targets model-based engineering of supervisory controllers and supports such an engineering process by offering functionality for modelling, simulation, visualisation, synthesis, and code generation. More concretely, in this paper, we show how the CIF 3 toolset [11] can automatically synthesise a single (family) model representing an automaton for each of the valid products of a product line from (i) an attributed feature model, (ii) component behaviour models associated with the features and (iii) additional behavioural requirements like state invariants, event orderings and guards on events (reminiscent of the Feature Transition Systems (FTSs) of Classen et al [17]). By construction, the resulting CIF 3 model satisfies all feature-related constraints as well as all behavioural requirements that are assumed to be given beforehand.…”

“…These automata may share certain events, and it is assumed that shared events will only occur at the system level if all automata that share that event execute it simultaneously. It is this form of multiparty synchronisation that allows a compact and modular specification [11,42]. More recently, in order to increase modelling comfort, finite state machines were replaced by extended finite automata, which allow the use of variables in the automata [41].…”

“…At Eindhoven University of Technology, the CIF 3 toolset [11] is developed and maintained. This toolset targets model-based engineering of supervisory controllers and supports such an engineering process by offering functionality for modelling, simulation, visualisation, synthesis, and code generation.…”

xCPS

“…Due to the large state space, there are challenges in the synthesis step to automatically derive a supervisory controller that ensures satisfaction of the requirements. In a bachelor level project [6] a student has modelled part of the platform to develop a supervisory controller following the synthesis-based model-based systems engineering process [19,4]. In this process the uncontrolled system and the control requirements are modelled independently and in a modular way, using small, loosely coupled models based on the formal model of extended finite automata (efas) [14,20].…”

A Platform-Based Design Methodology With Contracts and Related Tools for the Design of Cyber-Physical Systems

“…When the requirements also involve continuous variables, by "replacing" continuous dynamics by discrete abstractions it is possible to reduce the synthesis problem to a purely discrete one and therefore within the realm of reactive synthesis, or other established DE system control synthesis methods [86], [87], as available for instance in the third revision of the CIF language for supervisory control synthesis [88]. More recently, a synthesis method for discrete-time CPS subject to STL specifications has been proposed based on a model predictive control framework [89], [90].…”