New Journal Article Published

We are thrilled to announce the publication of our new article titled “Multidomain Fault Models Covering the Analog Side of a Smart or Cyber-Physical System” in IEEE Transactions on Computers.

Abstract

Over the last decade, the industrial world has been involved in a massive revolution guided by the adoption of digital technologies. In this context, complex systems like cyber-physical systems play a fundamental role since they were designed and realized by composing heterogeneous components. The combined simulation of the behavioral models of these components allows to reproduce the nominal behavior of the real system. Similarly, a smart system is a device that integrates heterogeneous components but in a miniaturized form factor. The development of smart or cyber-physical systems, in combination with faulty behaviors modeled for the different physical domains composing the system, enables to support advanced functional safety assessment at the system level. A methodology to create and inject multi-domain fault models in the analog side of these systems has been proposed by exploiting the physical analogy between the electrical and mechanical domains to infer a new mechanical fault taxonomy. Thus, standard electrical fault models are injected into the electrical part, while the derived mechanical fault models are injected directly into the mechanical part. The entire flow has been applied to two case studies: a direct current motor connected with a gear train, and a three-axis accelerometer.

Details

• Title: Multidomain Fault Models Covering the Analog Side of a Smart or Cyber-Physical System
• Authors: Francesco Tosoni, Nicola Dall’Ora, Enrico Fraccaroli, Sara Vinco, Franco Fummi
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Computers
• Volume: 73, Number: 3, Year: 2024
• Pages: 829-841
• Keywords: Circuit faults, Behavioral sciences, Mathematical models, Taxonomy, Safety, Standards, Europe, Cyber-physical systems, Smart systems, Fault taxonomy, Fault injection, Electrical faults, Mechanical faults

Links

• DOI: 10.1109/TC.2023.3345135
• Open Access Version: Read Here

This article proposes a novel methodology for modeling and injecting multi-domain faults into the analog side of cyber-physical systems. The approach leverages the analogy between electrical and mechanical domains to extend fault taxonomy and supports advanced functional safety assessments at the system level. Two real-world case studies, a direct current motor with a gear train and a three-axis accelerometer.