Agents+Control: A Methodology for CPSs

The development of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) is challenging because the cyber part (software) has to control, through sensors/actuators accessed by means of a suitable network infrastructure, a physical plant which can require the fulfillment of timing constraints. This paper proposes a methodology based on a control-centric agent framework, for the development of CPSs. The approach is original and enables model continuity, i.e., the same model can be exploited along all the development stages of a system, from analysis based on simulation down to real-time implementation and execution. For demonstration purposes, a case study concerned with optimizing power management in an electric power plant is reported.