Model-Based Programming: Controlling Embedded Systems by Reasoning About Hidden State

  • Authors:
  • Brian C. Williams;Michel D. Ingham

  • Affiliations:
  • -;-

  • Venue:
  • CP '02 Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming
  • Year:
  • 2002

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Abstract

Programming complex embedded systems involves reasoning through intricate system interactions along paths between sensors, actuators and control processors. This is a time-consuming and error-prone process. Furthermore, the resulting code generally lacks modularity and robustness. Model-based programming addresses these limitations, allowing engineers to program by specifying high-level control strategies and by assembling common-sense models of the system hardware and software. To execute a control strategy, model-based executives reason about the models "on the fly", to track system state, diagnose faults and perform reconfigurations. This paper describes the Reactive Model-based Programming Language (RMPL) and its executive, called Titan. RMPL provides the features of synchronous reactive languages within a constraint-based modeling framework, with the added ability of being able to read and write to state variables that are hidden within the physical plant.