Citation
Edward A. Lee. "Computing Needs Time". Talk or presentation, 6, December, 2010; Presented at the Distinguished Systems Speakers Series, Purdue University.

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 on-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

• http://chess.eecs.berkeley.edu/pubs/793.html. (This talk is substantially similar to the WUSTL talk by the same name.)

• HTML

  Edward A. Lee. <a
  href="http://chess.eecs.berkeley.edu/pubs/796.html"
  ><i>Computing Needs Time</i></a>, Talk
  or presentation,  6, December, 2010; Presented at the
  Distinguished Systems Speakers Series, Purdue University.

• Plain text

  Edward A. Lee. "Computing Needs Time". Talk or
  presentation,  6, December, 2010; Presented at the
  Distinguished Systems Speakers Series, Purdue University.

• BibTeX

  @presentation{Lee10_ComputingNeedsTime,
      author = {Edward A. Lee},
      title = {Computing Needs Time},
      day = {6},
      month = {December},
      year = {2010},
      note = {Presented at the Distinguished Systems Speakers
                Series, Purdue University},
      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 on-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/796.html}
  }
  

Posted by Christopher Brooks on 22 Dec 2010.
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