Cyber-physical Systems

1Introduction

What is a cyber‐physical system? Why should I study it? What are its relations to cybernetics, information theory, embedded systems, industrial automation, computer sciences, and even physics? Will cyber‐physical systems (CPSs) be the seed of revolutions in industrial production and/or social relations? Is this book about theory or practice? Is it about mathematics, applied sciences, technology, or even philosophy? These are the questions the reader is probably thinking about right now. Definitive answers to them are indeed hard to give at this point. During the reading of this book, though, I expect that these questions will be systematically answered. Hence, new problems and solutions can then be formulated, allowing for a progressive development of a new scientific field.

As a prelude, this first chapter will explicitly state the philosophical position followed in this book. The chapter starts by highlighting what is spontaneously thought under the term “CPS” to then argue the reasons why a general theory is necessary to build scientific knowledge about this object of inquiry and design. A brief historical perspective of closely related fields, namely control theory, information theory, and cybernetics, will also be given followed by a necessary digression of philosophical positions and possible misinterpretations of such broad theoretical constructions. In summary, the proposed demarcation can be seen as a risk management action to avoid mistakes arising from ...