1. Systems of Systems & Emergent Properties: Systems & Control Challenges
Systems & Control Research Centre
School of Mathematics, Computer Sciences & Engineering
Systems of Systems & Emergent Properties: Systems & Control Challenges
Professor Nicos Karcanias
Engineering Systems Sustainability 2015
31 March 2015, City University London

2. EXAMPLES OF SYSTEMS OF SYSTEMS
What is a System of
Systems ?
Air traffic
Freeways
Industrial Production
Aircraft
Transportation SoS: Roads +GPS+ ONSTAR

3. System of Systems Empirical Characterisation
SoS: A meta-system consisting of multiple autonomous embedded complex systems that can be diverse in:
Technology
Context
Operation
Geography
Conceptual frame
Distinctions
An airplane is not SoS, but the design of a new airplane, or an airport is an SoS.
A robot is not a SoS, but a robotic colony (a swarm) is an SoS

4. KALLICRATIDES NOTION OF THE SYSTEM
BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE DEFINITION
● BASIC ELEMENTS, OBJECTS
● RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OBJECTS
● PURPOSE OF THE SYSTEM, GOALS
● SYSTEM ENVIRONMENT
●The Lakonian, and Pythagorean Kallicratides:
(«Περί οίκων ευδαιμονίας» (Doric dialect in the Anthology of J. Stobaei, Economicos, 16, 485):
“Any system consists of contrary and dissimilar elements, which unite under one optimum and return to the common purpose”.
Examples:
●The system of dance in the singing societies
●The system of the crew in a ship
●The family (the household)

5. Research Questions QUESTIONS: ● What is systems Complexity ?
● How can you characterise Sustainability as an
Emergent property in Complex Systems ?
● How do you formally define Systems of Systems
(SoS) ?
● What is the difference of SoS from the
notion of “composite systems” (CoS) ?
● How do we design, re-design complex systems
to improve emergent properties?

6. CLASSIFICATION OF TYPES OF COMPLEXITY
UNIT BEHAVIOURAL COMPLEXITY (Subprocess Level)
LARGE- SCALE MULTICOMPONENT COMPLEXITY (system Level)
COMPUTATIONAL COMPLEXITY
(system Level)
TOTAL LOCAL COMPLEXITY
(System & subprocess Level)
ENVIRONMENT INDUCED COMPLEXITY
(Total Nature)
DESIGN PROCESS COMPLEXITY (System & Subprocess Level)
EVOLUTIONARY LIFE- CYCLE COMPLEXITY (System & Subprocess Level)
ORGANISATIONAL COMPLEXITY (System Level)
HYBRID BEHAVIOURAL COMPLEXITY (System Level)
INTERCONNECTION TOPOLOGY COMPLEXITY (system Level)

7. Integrated Systems as SoS
Designer
Risk
SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS
Systems Safety
Reliability, Maintenance
EMERGENT PROPERTIES
Logistics
Quality of Products, Services
Human Resources,
Management, Finance
PHYSICAL LAYER
COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION LAYER
Assurance
Sustainability
OPERATIONS LAYER

8. THE INTEGRATED INTELLIGENT SYSTEM
THE INTELLIGENT SYSTEM:
Signal Processing, Modelling, Estimation, Computations Decision Making and Control
INTERACTION WITH OTHER SYSTEMS
DECISION
IDENTIFICATION
PLANT
ESTIMATION
MODELLING
REALITY d u z y
CONTROL
SIGNAL PROCESSING r'
OPERATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
OVERALL GOALS r
Input Influences
Output Influences
INTEGRATED SYSTEM
SUPERVISORY
ACTIVITIES
AUTONOMOUS INTELLIGENT AGENT
CONTROLLER

9. SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS ▲ Composite Systems : Composite notion
A Collection of independent systems interacting through an interconnection topology which are part of a central goal defining game.
▲ Composite Systems : Composite notion
● Subsystems are not necessarily integrated.
● An interconnection topology is defined on
the information Structures of the
subsystems.
▲ System of Systems : Composite notion
● Subsystems are integrated systems acting
as Independent intelligent agents. +
● The new notion of the “play” is introduced where the subsystems behave as
“actors” and possibly lack of system boundaries between subsystems
● A central Goal, frequently associated with a Game is defined where the subsystems
participate as agents subject to the constraints of the play.

10. SYSTEM PLAY AND ITS DESCRIPTION
SYSTEM PLAY: A RULE, SENARIO DEFINING THE OPERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE INTEGRATED AND INTELLIGENT SUBSYSTEMS
APPROACHES FOR CHARACTERISATION OF THE SYSTEMS PLAY:
♦ CO-OPERATIVE CONTROL
♦ MARKET-ECONOMICS BASED COORDINATION
TECHNIQUES
♦ POPULATION CONTROL METHODS
♦ COALITION GAMES ●

11. Research Agenda ♦ CLASSIFICATION OF SoS CHALLENGING APPLICATIONS
♦ METHODS FOR FORMAL CHARACTERISATION OF THE SYSTEM PLAY ACCORDING TO SoS NATURE
♦ SYSTEM ORGANISATION, GOAL AND HOLONICS
♦ FORMAL DEFINITION OF EMERGENT PROPERTIES
♦ RE-ENGINEERING SoS
♦ DECISION AND CONTROL PROBLEMS ON SoS
CHALLENGING APPLICATIONS