Efficient control software
The EU-funded RSCS (Automata based interfaces for dynamic resource scheduling in control systems) project addressed a need for efficient resource utilisation in embedded control software. The plan was to combine control theory and scheduling theory, thereby removing the need for strict requirements on hard deadlines for software components. Yet, in addition, the proposal would not compromise the ability to use control system components in safety-critical applications. The team studied interfaces for components of software control systems that streamline the integration of dynamic scheduling mechanisms. Expected benefits included efficient resource allocation in critical control systems. The principle worked by feeding information from the control loop back to the scheduling algorithm, thus allowing adaptive adjustments to resource allocations. Potential applications include robots, aircraft and industrial machines. The four-year project ended in August 2014. RSCS expanded the scope of automata-based interfaces. Researchers also provided ways of using automata as a practical interface between scheduling and control. The development allowed dynamic scheduling, formal performance guarantees, and separation of concerns between software and control engineers. The team also created practical mechanisms for dynamic resource allocation. Results included a lightweight decision-making and scheduling mechanism. The outcome permitted control strategies that dynamically change resource demands depending on conditions. Another result was experimental tools for demonstrating the advantages of the new approach. One tool, called GameComposer, demonstrated the applicability of the project's vision via case studies. Finally, the team contributed to formal methods and hybrid systems theories. The RSCS project developed new control and design techniques, and contributed to automata theory. Outcomes include more flexible interfaces and more responsive control systems.
Keywords
Embedded control software, automata based interfaces, resource scheduling, control systems, software components