Verifying Cyber-Physical System Behavior in the Context of Cyber-Physical System-Networks

Abstract

Cyber-physical systems are highly connected context sensitive systems that form networks. Within these cyber-physical system-networks, behavior emerges from the interplay of the connected systems that cannot be attributed to a single system. Verifying single system behavior as well as the resulting emergent behavior of the system-network the single systems contribute to, is challenging as the intended behavior differs between the different cyber-physical system-networks the single system takes part in. It can even differ between two almost identical cyber-physical system-networks, which, for example, only differ by one system. To ensure correct behavior, requirements engineering for cyber-physical systems must cope with the identification and documentation of the cyber-physical system's dynamic context, i.e. the different system-networks the system takes part in (e.g., a system-network of vehicles forming a platoon on a highway) as well as the context situations these system-networks can encounter (e.g., road work leading to the need for lane shifts). This paper contributes a solution idea for automated support in identifying relevant system-networks the system will have to interact with and for verifying the cyber-physical system under development against these relevant system-networks.