Model-based design: a report from the trenches of the DARPA Urban Challenge

Abstract

The impact of model-based design on the software engineering community is impressive, and recent research in model transformations, and elegant behavioral specifications of systems has the potential to revolutionize the way in which systems are designed. Such techniques aim to raise the level of abstraction at which systems are specified, to remove the burden of producing applicationspecific programs with general-purpose programming. For complex real-time systems, however, the impact of modeldriven approaches is not nearly so widespread. In this paper, we present a perspective of model-based design researchers who joined with software experts in robotics to enter the DARPA Urban Challenge, and to what extent modelbased design techniques were used. Further, we speculate on why, according to our experience and the testimonies of many teams, the full promises of model-based design were not widely realized for the competition. Finally, we

System modelling for run-time verification and validation of autonomous systems

“…For example, Sprinkle et al [3] discuss the use of modelling as part of engineering a vehicle for the DARPA Urban Challenge, and in particular introduce principles such as 'Everything is a model' and 'Model everything'. Sprinkle describes many of their developed models, which largely capture the system structure or provide the basis of systems analysis to establish whether the vehicle could achieve a necessary level of performance during design.…”

Comparing Reuse Strategies in Different Development Environments

“…For example, one was a DARPA analysis from MB designers working with robotics, including tools and techniques [70]. The combination PL/CB reuse study involved digital audio and video projects [71].…”

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“…Whatever, the net effect is that the pool of SoS system designers comprise distributed groups, with little knowledge of the SoS outside their own organisation, and even less about its potential evolution. The design of an efficient SoS, under these circumstances, is perhaps best achieved by adopting a model-based systems engineering (MBSE) approach, distributed across the SoS organizations, that is common in software engineering (DOD 2008;Sprinkle, Eklund et al 2009), but with particular emphasis on the embodiment of open standards, the clear, agreed specification of interfaces, and the conservation of knowledge. This MBSE approach necessarily must embrace both the software systems, their interconnections and the enterprise systems that own and operate them.…”