Design Considerations for Modeling Modes in Cyber–Physical Systems

Safety critical systems such as cruise control in automotive systems and variable rate bolus in medical device infusion pumps introduce complexity and reduce the flexibility of incremental code modifications. This paper proposes a generic pattern to structure the mode logic such that additions, modifications, and removal of behaviors could be done in a quick and localized fashion without losing model integrity. The authors illustrate the proposed pattern using the infusion pump as a case study and describe a design pattern for the mode logic of reactive systems that allows for flexible, understandable, and maintainable models.