AI-Enabled Software and System Architecture Frameworks: Focusing on smart Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)

Several architecture frameworks for software, systems, and enterprises have been proposed in the literature. They identified various stakeholders and defined architecture viewpoints and views to frame and address stakeholder concerns. However, the stakeholders with data science and Machine Learning (ML) related concerns, such as data scientists and data engineers, are yet to be included in existing architecture frameworks. Therefore, they failed to address the architecture viewpoints and views responsive to the concerns of the data science community. In this paper, we address this gap by establishing the architecture frameworks adapted to meet the requirements of modern applications and organizations where ML artifacts are both prevalent and crucial. In particular, we focus on ML-enabled Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) and propose two sets of merit criteria for their efficient development and performance assessment, namely the criteria for evaluating and benchmarking ML-enabled CPSs, and the criteria for evaluation and benchmarking of the tools intended to support users through the modeling and development pipeline. In this study, we deploy multiple empirical and qualitative research methods based on literature review and survey instruments including expert interviews and an online questionnaire. We collect, analyze, and integrate the opinions of 77 experts from more than 25 organizations in over 10 countries to devise and validate the proposed framework.

Model-Driven Quantum Federated Learning (QFL)

Recently, several studies have proposed frameworks for Quantum Federated Learning (QFL). For instance, the Google TensorFlow Quantum (TFQ) and TensorFlow Federated (TFF) libraries have been deployed for realizing QFL. However, developers, in the main, are not as yet familiar with Quantum Computing (QC) libraries and frameworks. A Domain-Specific Modeling Language (DSML) that provides an abstraction layer over the underlying QC and Federated Learning (FL) libraries would be beneficial. This could enable practitioners to carry out software development and data science tasks efficiently while deploying the state of the art in Quantum Machine Learning (QML). In this position paper, we propose extending existing domain-specific Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) tools for Machine Learning (ML) enabled systems, such as MontiAnna, ML-Quadrat, and GreyCat, to support QFL.

MDE for Machine Learning-Enabled Software Systems: A Case Study and Comparison of MontiAnna & ML-Quadrat

In this paper, we propose to adopt the MDE paradigm for the development of Machine Learning (ML)-enabled software systems with a focus on the Internet of Things (IoT) domain. We illustrate how two state-of-the-art open-source modeling tools, namely MontiAnna and ML-Quadrat can be used for this purpose as demonstrated through a case study. The case study illustrates using ML, in particular deep Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), for automated image recognition of handwritten digits using the MNIST reference dataset, and integrating the machine learning components into an IoT system. Subsequently, we conduct a functional comparison of the two frameworks, setting out an analysis base to include a broad range of design considerations, such as the problem domain, methods for the ML integration into larger systems, and supported ML methods, as well as topics of recent intense interest to the ML community, such as AutoML and MLOps. Accordingly, this paper is focused on elucidating the potential of the MDE approach in the ML domain. This supports the ML engineer in developing the (ML/software) model rather than implementing the code, and additionally enforces reusability and modularity of the design through enabling the out-of-the-box integration of ML functionality as a component of the IoT or cyber-physical systems.

Enabling Automated Machine Learning for Model-Driven AI Engineering

Developing smart software services requires both Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills. AI practitioners, such as data scientists often focus on the AI side, for example, creating and training Machine Learning (ML) models given a specific use case and data. They are typically not concerned with the entire software development life-cycle, architectural decisions for the system and performance issues beyond the predictive ML models (e.g., regarding the security, privacy, throughput, scalability, availability, as well as ethical, legal and regulatory compliance). In this manuscript, we propose a novel approach to enable Model-Driven Software Engineering and Model-Driven AI Engineering. In particular, we support Automated ML, thus assisting software engineers without deep AI knowledge in developing AI-intensive systems by choosing the most appropriate ML model, algorithm and techniques with suitable hyper-parameters for the task at hand. To validate our work, we carry out a case study in the smart energy domain.

MDE4QAI: Towards Model-Driven Engineering for Quantum Artificial Intelligence

Over the past decade, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has provided enormous new possibilities and opportunities, but also new demands and requirements for software systems. In particular, Machine Learning (ML) has proven useful in almost every vertical application domain. Although other sub-disciplines of AI, such as intelligent agents and Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) did not become promoted to the same extent, they still possess the potential to be integrated into the mainstream technology stacks and ecosystems, for example, due to the ongoing prevalence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). However, in the decade ahead, an unprecedented paradigm shift from classical computing towards Quantum Computing (QC) is expected, with perhaps a quantum-classical hybrid model. We expect the Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) paradigm to be an enabler and a facilitator, when it comes to the quantum and the quantum-classical hybrid applications as it has already proven beneficial in the highly complex domains of IoT, smart CPS and AI with inherently heterogeneous hardware and software platforms, and APIs. This includes not only automated code generation, but also automated model checking and verification, as well as model analysis in the early design phases, and model-to-model transformations both at the design-time and at the runtime. In this paper, the vision is focused on MDE for Quantum AI, and a holistic approach integrating all of the above.

ML-Quadrat & DriotData: A Model-Driven Engineering Tool and a Low-Code Platform for Smart IoT Services

In this paper, we present the novel early tool prototype of ML-Quadrat, which is an open source research prototype, based on the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) and the state of the art in the literature of Model-Driven Software Engineering (MDSE) for smart Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Its envisioned users are mostly software developers, who might not have deep knowledge and skills in the heterogeneous IoT platforms and the diverse Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, specifically regarding Data Analytics and Machine Learning (DAML). ML-Quadrat is released under the terms of the Apache 2.0 license on Github: https://github.com/arminmoin/ML-Quadrat. Additionally, the novel early tool prototype of DriotData, a Low-Code platform targeting citizen data scientists and citizen/end-user software developers is demonstrated. DriotData exploits and adopts ML-Quadrat and offers an extended version of it as a web-based service to companies, especially Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME). A basic web-based demo of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) of DriotData is already available. Finally, a short video demonstrating the tools is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YCNFfhmy_JY.

Enabling Un-/Semi-Supervised Machine Learning for MDSE of the Real-World CPS/IoT Applications

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to support domain-specific Model-Driven Software Engineering (MDSE) for the real-world use-case scenarios of smart Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and the Internet of Things (IoT). We argue that the majority of available data in the nature for Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically Machine Learning (ML) are unlabeled. Hence, unsupervised and/or semi-supervised ML approaches are the practical choices. However, prior work in the literature of MDSE has considered supervised ML approaches, which only work with labeled training data. Our proposed approach is fully implemented and integrated with an existing state-of-the-art MDSE tool to serve the CPS/IoT domain. Moreover, we validate the proposed approach using a portion of the open data of the REFIT reference dataset for the smart energy systems domain. Our model-to-code transformations (code generators) provide the full source code of the desired IoT services out of the model instances in an automated manner. Currently, we generate the source code in Java and Python. The Python code is responsible for the ML functionalities and uses the APIs of several ML libraries and frameworks, namely Scikit-Learn, Keras and TensorFlow. For unsupervised and semi-supervised learning, the APIs of Scikit-Learn are deployed. In addition to the pure MDSE approach, where certain ML methods, e.g., K-Means, Mini-Batch K-Means, DB-SCAN, Spectral Clustering, Gaussian Mixture Model, Self-Training, Label Propagation and Label Spreading are supported, a more flexible, hybrid approach is also enabled to support the practitioner in deploying a pre-trained ML model with any arbitrary architecture and learning algorithm.

A Model-Driven Engineering Approach to Machine Learning and Software Modeling

Models are used in both the Software Engineering (SE) and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) communities. In the former case, models of software, which may specify the software system architecture on different levels of abstraction could be used in various stages of the Software Development Life-Cycle (SDLC), from early conceptualization and design, to verification, implementation, testing and evolution. However, in the latter case, i.e., AI, models may provide smart capabilities, such as prediction and decision making support. For instance, in Machine Learning (ML), which is the most popular sub-discipline of AI at the present time, mathematical models may learn useful patterns in the observed data instances and can become capable of making better predictions or recommendations in the future. The goal of this work is to create synergy by bringing models in the said communities together and proposing a holistic approach. We illustrate how software models can become capable of producing or dealing with data analytics and ML models. The main focus is on the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) use cases, where both ML and model-driven (model-based) SE play a key role. In particular, we implement the proposed approach in an open source prototype and validate it using two use cases from the IoT/CPS domain.

Data Analytics and Machine Learning Methods, Techniques and Tool for Model-Driven Engineering of Smart IoT Services

This doctoral dissertation proposes a novel approach to enhance the development of smart services for the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). The proposed approach offers abstraction and automation to the software engineering processes, as well as the Data Analytics (DA) and Machine Learning (ML) practices. This is realized in an integrated and seamless manner. We implement and validate the proposed approach by extending an open source modeling tool, called ThingML. ThingML is a domain-specific language and modeling tool with code generation for the IoT/CPS domain. Neither ThingML nor any other IoT/CPS modeling tool supports DA/ML at the modeling level. Therefore, as the primary contribution of the doctoral dissertation, we add the necessary syntax and semantics concerning DA/ML methods and techniques to the modeling language of ThingML. Moreover, we support the APIs of several ML libraries and frameworks for the automated generation of the source code of the target software in Python and Java. Our approach enables platform-independent, as well as platform-specific models. Further, we assist in carrying out semiautomated DA/ML tasks by offering Automated ML (AutoML), in the background (in expert mode), and through model-checking constraints and hints at design-time. Finally, we consider three use case scenarios from the domains of network security, smart energy systems and energy exchange markets.

ThingML+ Augmenting Model-Driven Software Engineering for the Internet of Things with Machine Learning

In this paper, we present the current position of the research project ML-Quadrat, which aims to extend the methodology, modeling language and tool support of ThingML - an open source modeling tool for IoT/CPS - to address Machine Learning needs for the IoT applications. Currently, ThingML offers a modeling language and tool support for modeling the components of the system, their communication interfaces as well as their behaviors. The latter is done through state machines. However, we argue that in many cases IoT/CPS services involve system components and physical processes, whose behaviors are not well understood in order to be modeled using state machines. Hence, quite often a data-driven approach that enables inference based on the observed data, e.g., using Machine Learning is preferred. To this aim, ML-Quadrat integrates the necessary Machine Learning concepts into ThingML both on the modeling level (syntax and semantics of the modeling language) and on the code generators level. We plan to support two target platforms for code generation regarding Stream Processing and Complex Event Processing, namely Apache SAMOA and Apama.