Citation
Edward A. Lee. "Computing Needs Time". Talk or presentation, 12, November, 2010; Distinguished Lecture Series on Cyber-Physical Systems, Washington University, St. Louis.

Abstract
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are integrations of computation and physical processes. Embedded computers and networks monitor and control the physical processes, usually with feedback loops where physical processes affect computations and vice versa. The prevailing abstractions used in computing, however, do not mesh well with the physical world. Most critically, software systems speak about the passage of time only very indirectly and in non-compositional ways. This talk examines the obstacles in software technologies that are impeding progress, and in particular raises the question of whether today's computing and networking technologies provide an adequate foundation for CPS. It argues that it will not be sufficient to improve design processes, raise the level of abstraction, or verify (formally or otherwise) designs that are built on today's abstractions. To realize the full potential of CPS, we will have to rebuild software abstractions. These abstractions will have to embrace physical dynamics and computation in a unified way. This talk will discuss research challenges and potential solutions.

Electronic downloads

• ComputingNeedsTime_WashU.pdf · application/pdf · 6546 kbytes

• HTML

  Edward A. Lee. <a
  href="http://chess.eecs.berkeley.edu/pubs/793.html"><i>Computing
  Needs Time</i></a>, Talk or presentation,  12,
  November, 2010; <a
  href="http://cse.wustl.edu/aboutthedepartment/pages/event-detail.aspx?event=719&eventtype=other"
  >Distinguished Lecture Series on Cyber-Physical
  Systems</a>, Washington University, St. Louis.

• Plain text

  Edward A. Lee. "Computing Needs Time". Talk or
  presentation,  12, November, 2010; <a
  href="http://cse.wustl.edu/aboutthedepartment/pages/event-detail.aspx?event=719&eventtype=other"
  >Distinguished Lecture Series on Cyber-Physical
  Systems</a>, Washington University, St. Louis.

• BibTeX

  @presentation{Lee10_ComputingNeedsTime,
      author = {Edward A. Lee},
      title = {Computing Needs Time},
      day = {12},
      month = {November},
      year = {2010},
      note = {<a
                href="http://cse.wustl.edu/aboutthedepartment/pages/event-detail.aspx?event=719\&eventtype=other"
                >Distinguished Lecture Series on Cyber-Physical
                Systems</a>, Washington University, St. Louis.},
      abstract = {Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are integrations of
                computation and physical processes. Embedded
                computers and networks monitor and control the
                physical processes, usually with feedback loops
                where physical processes affect computations and
                vice versa. The prevailing abstractions used in
                computing, however, do not mesh well with the
                physical world. Most critically, software systems
                speak about the passage of time only very
                indirectly and in non-compositional ways. This
                talk examines the obstacles in software
                technologies that are impeding progress, and in
                particular raises the question of whether today's
                computing and networking technologies provide an
                adequate foundation for CPS. It argues that it
                will not be sufficient to improve design
                processes, raise the level of abstraction, or
                verify (formally or otherwise) designs that are
                built on today's abstractions. To realize the full
                potential of CPS, we will have to rebuild software
                abstractions. These abstractions will have to
                embrace physical dynamics and computation in a
                unified way. This talk will discuss research
                challenges and potential solutions.},
      URL = {http://chess.eecs.berkeley.edu/pubs/793.html}
  }
  

Posted by Christopher Brooks on 21 Dec 2010.
For additional information, see the Publications FAQ or contact webmaster at chess eecs berkeley edu.