A Database-Centric Framework for the Modeling, Simulation, and Control of Cyber-Physical Systems in the Factory of the Future

The factory of the future scenario asks for new approaches to cope with the incoming challenges and complexity of cyber-physical systems. The role of database management systems is becoming central for control and automation technology in this new industrial scenario. This article proposes database-centric technology and architecture that aims to seamlessly integrate networking, artificial intelligence, and real-time control issues into a unified model of computing. The proposed methodology is also viable for the development of a framework that features simulation and rapid prototyping tools for smart and advanced industrial automation. The full expression of the potentialities in the presented approach is expected in particular for applications where tiny and distributed embedded devices collaborate to a shared computing task of relevant complexity.