Virtual Prototyping

Virtual prototyping facilitates rapid development of future products through computerised models. These models allow predictions to be made about the hypothetical system through simulation, which greatly reduces both development costs and time scales in contrast to physical prototyping. The system components are often described by individual models in a number of different languages and notations, such as Simulink and Modelica, and so these virtual prototypes are often called “multi-models”. FMI (Functional Mockup Interface) is a tool independent standard that supports assembly and co-simulation of multi-models. The predecessor project, INTO-CPS (2015-2018), developed theoretical foundations, methods, and computerised tools for virtual prototyping with FMI, and successfully demonstrated its utility in several industrial case studies.

Through analysis of a multi-model, evidence can be obtained for an assurance case that demonstrates safety of the system, provided that a correspondence can be demonstrated between the virtual and the physical prototype. Though simultation is a valuable technique for empirical analysis, more rigour can be obtained by the application of formal methods to design and analysis of the models. Techniques like model checking, theorem proving, and refinement to code can be applied to exhaustively verify design and safety requirements. This necessitates on the one hand formal semantics for the constituent models, and on the hand other integration of formal methods for analysis.