François Pfister

A proposed meta-model for formalizing systems engineering knowledge, based on functional architectural patterns

Design patterns and architecture patterns have been considerably promoted by software engineering. The software oriented tools and methods have been adapted for systems engineering, conforming to the model driven engineering paradigm proposed by the Object Management Group. However, designers of complex sociotechnical systems have specific concerns, which differ from those of software designers. We propose a method of pattern implementation for systems engineering, based on a functional approach and relying on formal conceptual foundations in the form of a meta-model, which can be used for the management, application, and cataloguing of patterns specific to the field of systems engineering. A pattern instance in the field of control systems is proposed as an example application:

Easing model transformation learning with automatically aligned examples

Model Based Transformation Example (MTBE) is a recent track of research aiming at learning a transformation from examples. In most MTBE processes, a transformation example is given in the form of a source model, a transformed model and links between source elements and the corresponding transformed elements. Building the links is done manually, which is a tedious task, while in many cases, they can be deduced from the examination of the source and transformed models, by using relevant attributes, like names or identifiers. We exploit this characteristic by proposing a semi-automatic matching operation, suitable for discovering matches between the source model and the transformed model. Our technique is inspired by and extends the Anchor-Prompt approach, and is based on the automatic discovery of pairs of anchors (pairs of elements for which there is a strong assumption of matching) to support the whole matching discovery. An implementation of the approach is provided for validation on a case study.

A Verification Approach from MDE Applied to Model Based Systems Engineering: xeFFBD Dynamic Semantics

Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) is “the formalized application of modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification and validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout development and later life cycle phases” [1]. Among other principles, it promotes creating and analyzing models all along systems engineering. These models are used to discuss, to argue and finally to make decisions that impact the achieved system (in terms of functioning, costs, safety, etc.). One of the main expectations of MBSE is to permit engineers to dispose of models with a high level of confidence. For this purpose, several model Verification and Validation (V&V) approaches exist, aiming to ensure models’ quality in terms of construction (models are correctly built) and in terms of relevance for reaching design objectives and stakeholders’ requirements. This paper aims at discussing and evaluating an approach originally developed in the field of Model Driven Engineering by proposing some adaptations. The approach is illustrated on a well-known functional modeling language dedicated to MBSE field.

A Design Pattern meta model for Systems Engineering

Abstract Design patterns are widely used in software engineering. Building on lessons learned in this domain, this article proposes a suitable design pattern meta model for systems engineering with two goals. The first one is to help designers to leverage and reuse knowledge required in various engineering domains during design phases. The second one is to propose and formalize an approach that allows designers and systems architects to identify relevant design patterns and apply them in a semi-automatic manner. This approach consists to improve model alignment techniques based on model interoperability hypothesis.

Integration of agents and RFID in a manufacturing simulation

In most research projects involving a complex architecture and sophisticated components, simulation is the only mean to properly validate solutions and to accompany the development process. We present here an approach which combines a simulation platform with a multi agent system and a RFID equipment in order to test and validate the concepts of control architecture on a manufacturing scenario. Manufacturing agents are thus sensitive to events that occur within a 3D simulation environment. This approach has been used to support a research project by building up the simulation of a product lifecycle scenario.

Bee Hive Traffic Monitoring by Tracking Bee Flight Paths

The number of pollinator insect is in decline in Europe and this raises concerns about the supply of pollination services to agriculture. Thus, countries with a low number of honeybees are more vulnerable to negative shifts in wild pollinator communities. Consequently, the demand for honeybee pollination is higher than ever but beekeepers are also very concerned by the strength of their colonies. To measure this factor, a very important indicator to take into account is the flight activity at the beehive entrance. A quantitative measure of the activity can be related to the environment and does not only benefit beekeepers but scientists too. In this paper, we present a complete method of measuring this activity. It is represented by the number of bees going in or out of the beehive. The developed method is divided in three parts: the first one consists in bee detection thanks to several image transformations using background subtraction and ellipse approximations. The second one is about tracking bees, by assuming their future positions in order to determine whether they are going in or getting out of the beehive. The last one consists in counting the bees. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate that our system created with limited resources can be used to precisely measure the flight activity at the beehive entrance.

Vers la génération des syntaxes concrètes graphiques pour les langages de modélisation métier

L’ingenierie dirigee par les modeles (IDM), est une approche de conception de systemes complexes basee sur la creation, la manipulation et l’analyse de modeles. Divers langages de modelisation metier specifiques a chaque domaine sont utilises pour la creation de ces modeles. Il est donc necessaire de definir des representations graphiques pour ces nouveaux langages specifiques. Cet article expose des concepts et des mecanismes permettant de guider et d’aider un expert de tout domaine d’ingenierie a definir et a formaliser une syntaxe concrete graphique pour un langage de modelisation metier. En se basant sur la structure sous-jacente des syntaxes abstraites et des syntaxes concretes, plusieurs classifications des elements d’une syntaxe abstraite sont introduites et en utilisant ces classifications, une illustration montre comment generer une syntaxe concrete graphique pour un langage metier specifique.

A Framework for Concurrent Design of Metamodels and Diagrams

DSML (Domain Specific Modeling Languages) are an alternative to general purpose modeling languages (e.g. UML or SysML) for describing models with concepts and relations specific to a domain. DSML design is often based on Ecore metamodels, which follow the class-relation paradigm and also require defining a concrete syntax which can be either graphical or textual. In this paper, we focus on graphical concrete syntax, and we introduce an approach and a tool (Diagraph) to assist the design of a graphical DSML. The main principles are: non-intrusive annotations of the metamodel to identify nodes, edges, nesting structures and other graphical information; immediate validation of metamodels by immediate generation of an EMF-GMF instance editor supporting multi-diagramming. We report a comparison experience between Diagraph and Obeo Designer (a commercial proprietary tool), which was conducted as part of a Model Driven Engineering Course.