Dynamic modularity: A distributed decision mechanism in system of systems

Abstract

Effective use of modularity in distributed systems is a key to accommodate complexity arising from having multiple stakeholder requirements and increased environmental uncertainties and facilitates efficient dynamic resource allocation of the system. In this paper, a formal framework that links various classes of systems modularity to distributed decision complexities is presented by formulating modularity as an emergent phenomenon rising from environmental heterogeneity. The work also demonstrates behavioral and mathematical formulation of the problem as well as agent-based simulation of sample networked systems to verify the results.