Research team
Expertise
Expert in creating and maintaining digital twins of cyber-physical systems. Such a digital twin is a virtual reflection of the real system which, by using models, can provide useful services to the real system. Regarding its creation, we apply model-based system design. When it comes to maintaining them, we focus on techniques that allow us to detect and identify differences between the models and the real system and use them to adjust the models where necessary.
DarTwin – Foundations for the Systematic Evolution of Digital Twins.
Abstract
Digital twins (DTs) are virtual counterparts to cyber-physical systems (CPSs), enabling advanced DT services, including real-time simulation of what-if scenarios, predictive maintenance, and complex behavioural reasoning. When a digital twin system (DTS) is established, a single DT is created for an actual system (AS) to fulfil specific high-level goals, known as DT purposes. Throughout the DTS's lifecycle, various aspects (DT purposes, AS configuration or environment) evolve and thus require the addition of new DTs or the changing/removing of existing ones. For example, an energy-saving DT might be added to a DTS that controls heat and air quality, potentially adding opposing goals and conflicts (e.g., heating vs. saving energy). Currently, no methodology exists for the systematic evolution of DTSs and the discovery and management of conflicts. This project will develop MetaTwins as a concept that embraces the constant evolution of DTSs as core principle. MetaTwins are dedicated DTS representations, similar to DTs that represent an AS. They orchestrate evolution in the DTS by adding, removing, and modifying its DTs, while sustaining the DTS's purposes and validity. They provide essential services such as change discovery, impact analyses, and simulation of the interplay among DTs, and with the AS.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Denil Joachim
- Co-promoter: Mertens Joost
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Digital Twins for Continuous Deployment in Model-Based Systems Engineering of Cyber-Physical Systems.
Abstract
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are required to operate over a longer lifetime. As such, the initial requirements can be changed, requiring the system to be updated continuously. These updates to the system must be rolled out continuously (Continuous Deployment) throughout the system's lifetime. The DevOps methodology provides a structured, quality assuring way to do so, as it integrates Development and Operations of a system in a continuous cycle. DevOps is generally applied in software development, however in the design of CPS, which follows a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach, it is not. This is because many challenges remain in the application of DevOps in MBSE. My focus is to create the foundations for continuous deployment of safety-critical CPS using digital twins of the CPS.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Denil Joachim
- Fellow: Mertens Joost
Research team(s)
Project type(s)
- Research Project