Model-Based Development and Spatiotemporal Behavior of Cyber-Physical Systems

Many cyber-physical systems operate together with others and with humans in a joint physical space. Because of their operation in proximity to humans, they have to operate according to very high safety standards. This chapter presents a method for developing the control software of cyber-physical systems. The method is model-based and assists engineers with spatial and real-time property verification. In particular, the authors describe a toolchain consisting of the model-based development toolset Reactive Blocks, the spatial analyzer BeSpaceD in conjunction with the real-time model checkers UPPAAL and PRISM. The combination of these tools makes it possible to create models of the control software and, if necessary, simulators for the actual system behavior with Reactive Blocks. These models can then be checked for various correctness properties using the analysis tools. If all properties are fulfilled, Reactive Blocks transforms the models automatically into executable code.