Platforms for industrial cyber-physical systems integration: contradicting requirements as drivers for innovation

A variety of businesses are experiencing a boost in innovation due to cyber-physical systems. Consumer electronics, the health sector, the energy sector, or the automotive industry are examples of domains where the design and operations of highly integrated embedded systems are closer to physical processes than ever. New methods for describing, verifying, designing, and operating such integrated and often autonomously acting systems are required [1]. However, the biggest challenge likely lies in between these domains: the integration of distributed, multi-domain cyberphysical systems [2]. The combination and integration of diverse CPSs lead to an entirely new magnitude of applications and design challenges regarding the resulting CPS. An autonomous, electric vehicle may serve as an illustrative example: In order to perform a smooth, safe, comfortable, and efficient shopping tour, various CPSs that were previously operated independently need to interoperate: · The steering and navigation controls, · The charging electronics, · Vehicle-to-infrastructure, vehicle-to-vehicle, and vehicle-to-pedestrian communications, · The charging station directory,