The engineering of dependable cyber-physical systems (CPSs) is inherently collaborative, demanding cooperation between diverse disciplines. A goal of current research is the development of integrated tool chains for model-based CPS design that support co-modelling, analysis, co-simulation, testing and implementation. We discuss the role of formal methods in addressing three key aspects of this goal: providing reasoning support for semantically heterogeneous models, managing the complexity and scale of design space exploration, and supporting traceability and provenance in the CPS design set. We briefly outline an approach to the development of such a tool chain based on existing tools and discuss ongoing challenges and open research questions in this area. IEEE/ACM 3rd FME Workshop on Formal Methods in Software Engineering978-1-4673-7043-1/15 $31.00

Given the considerable ongoing research interest in collaborative multidisciplinary modelling and co-simulation, it is worth considering the features of model-based techniques and tools that deliver benefits to cyber-physical systems developers. The European project "Integrated Tool Chain for Model-based Design of Cyber-Physical Systems" (INTO-CPS) has developed a well-founded tool chain for CPS design, based on the Functional Mock-up Interface standard, and supported by methodological guidance. The focus of the project has been on the delivery of a sound foundation, an open chain of compatible and usable tools, and a set of accessible guidelines that help users adapt the technology to their development needs.

Abstract. Provenance metadata can be valuable in data sharing settings, where it can be used to help data consumers form judgements regarding the reliability of the data produced by third parties. However, some parts of provenance may be sensitive, requiring access control, or they may need to be simplified for the intended audience. Both these issues can be addressed by a single mechanism for creating abstractions over provenance, coupled with a policy model to drive the abstraction. Such mechanism, which we refer to as abstraction by grouping, simultaneously achieves partial disclosure of provenance, and facilitates its consumption. In this paper we introduce a formal foundation for this type of abstraction, grounded in the W3C PROV model; describe the associated policy model; and briefly present its implementation, the ProvAbs tool for interactive experimentation with policies and abstractions.

We describe an approach to the model‐based engineering of cyber‐physical systems that permits the coupling of diverse discrete‐event and continuous‐time models and their simulators. A case study in the building automation domain demonstrates how such co‐models and co‐simulation can promote early cooperation between disciplines within a systems engineering process before the expensive commitment is made to integration in physical prototypes. We identify areas for future advances in foundations, methods and tools to realise the potential of a co‐modelling approach within established systems engineering processes.

Abstract. We describe an approach to the model-based engineering of embedded and cyber-physical systems, based on the semantic integration of diverse discipline-specific notations and tools. Using the example of a small unmanned aerial vehicle, we explain the need for multiple notations and collaborative modelling. Learning from experience with binary co-modelling based on a bespoke operational semantics, we describe current work delivering an extended approach that enables integration of multiple models and tools in a consistent tool chain, founded on an extensible semantic framework exploiting the Unifying Theories of Programming.