Innovative change management in CPS development - identification of relevant influencing factors to quantify changes

The development of cyber-physical systems (CPS) requires a high degree of interdisciplinary collaboration between mechanical, electrical, and software engineers. These complex systems connect the digital and physical worlds, forming the foundation for tomorrow's high-tech systems. Effective change management is crucial, particularly when modifications to technical models must be communicated and integrated across domains.

Are you interested in playing a role in the future development of CPS?

What we want to do:

Consistency is essential for success in the collaborative development of CPS. Technical models, such as software architectures, FEM analyses, or CAD models, must be kept consistent throughout the entire development process. Inconsistencies are often caused by manual changes that are not sufficiently communicated or integrated, which is particularly problematic in interdisciplinary and cross-generational development.

Our overarching goal is to identify these inconsistencies at an early stage, inform development engineers of the potential impact of their planned changes in good time, and enable (semi-)automated consistency maintenance.

Your task:

The objective of this thesis is to identify the key influencing factors that enable the quantification of changes to technical models. This quantification is intended to facilitate the description and communication of changes, thereby improving consistency in CPS development and facilitating collaboration between engineers from different disciplines. This includes both a basic literature review and a study of current practices, for example via surveys or expert interviews.

This thesis makes a significant contribution to optimizing the development processes of cyber-physical systems. By quantifying changes, these can be made describable. A communication basis is created with which engineers from different domains can exchange information about planned changes.

Am I a good fit?

If you have a technical background (e.g. mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, computer science, industrial engineering, etc.) and are interested in the development process of complex cyber-physical systems, you fit the profile perfectly! You should enjoy researching new and interesting topics and be willing to delve into the theory of product development.  

How you benefit:

• Work on an interdisciplinary topic between mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software and industrial engineering
• Learning how to work scientifically
• Intensive 1:1 coaching with a research assistant
• Regular networking and exchange with students working on theses at Convide
• Aiming for scientific publication of the work results

Still have questions or interested? Please send an e-mail to lars.gesmann∂kit.edu.