Evaluation of architecture design with CIMOSA

This paper evaluates the suitability of the CIMOSA modelling framework for the specification of control architectures for manufacturing systems. An architecture can be seen as a set of specifications that express the functions of components and their interfaces. Based on the characteristics of architectures, several requirements on architecture modelling techniques are defined. These requirements are used in the evaluation, which is illustrated by an industrial application. CIMOSA offers adequate constructs to specify concurrent processes and their interactions, and to specify process behaviour. The framework separates architectural concerns from implementation matters and provides multiple views. Dynamic constraints, which are used to non-deterministically specify system behaviour, can not be represented. Ic addition, the semantics of the formal model reveal some inconsistencies. The CIMOSA modelling framework is now accompanied by some methodologies that aim to guide the user in the application of the framework. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.