Minding the Cyber-Physical Gap: Model-Based Analysis and Mitigation of Systemic Perception-Induced Failure

Area of Science:

• Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering
• System Safety and Reliability
• Accident Analysis

Background:

• The cyber-physical gap (CPG) arises from limitations in sensing and data collection, inherent in all cyber-physical systems (CPS).
• Failure to account for CPGs during system design and analysis can lead to misconceptions, performance degradation, and catastrophic failures.
• Existing methodologies often overlook or inadequately address the impact of CPGs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce CPG-Aware Modeling & Engineering (CPGAME), a novel approach for managing the cyber-physical gap.
• To enhance systems engineers' capability to identify, explain, and mitigate CPGs through model-based engineering.
• To demonstrate the practical application of CPGAME in preventing system failures and improving safety.

Main Methods:

• Developed CPGAME, a conceptual model-based approach to explicitly capture and address the cyber-physical gap.
• Utilized ISO-19450:2015-Object Process Methodology as the framework for conceptual modeling.
• Applied CPGAME to model and analyze the 1979 Three Mile Island 2 nuclear accident scenario.

Main Results:

• CPGAME provides a structured method for systems engineers to understand and mitigate the cyber-physical gap.
• The application to the Three Mile Island accident demonstrates how CPGAME could have prevented or mitigated the meltdown.
• The approach enhances decision-making by incorporating the reality of system perception limitations.

Conclusions:

• CPGAME is an effective framework for enhancing the safety and reliability of cyber-physical systems.
• Explicitly modeling and engineering for the cyber-physical gap is crucial for preventing systemic failures.
• The CPGAME approach offers a pathway to more robust and resilient system designs.