Cyber-physical systems design: transition from functional to architectural models

Normally, the design process of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) starts with the creation of functional models that are used for simulation purposes. However, most of the time such models are not directly reused for the design of the architecture of the target CPS. As a consequence, more efforts than strictly necessary are spent during the CPS architecture design phase. This paper presents an approach called Assisted Transformation of Models (AST), which aims at transforming functional (simulation) models designed in the Simulink environment into architectural models represented in the Architecture Analysis and Design Language. Using AST, designers can perform a smooth transition between these two design phases, with an additional advantage of assuring the coupling between functional and architectural models. The use and benefits of AST are exemplified in the paper in a study devoted to for the design of a typical CPS: an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.