Giuseppe Della Penna, Daniele Magazzeni, Alberto Tofani, Benedetto Intrigila, Igor Melatti, and Enrico Tronci. "Automatic Synthesis of Robust Numerical Controllers." In Icas '07, 4. IEEE Computer Society, 2007. ISSN: 0-7695-2859-5. DOI: 10.1109/CONIELECOMP.2007.59.
Abstract: A major problem of numerical controllers is their robustness, i.e. the state read from the plant may not be in the controller table, although it may be close to some states in the table. For continuous systems, this problem is typically handled by interpolation techniques. Unfortunately, when the plant contains both continuous and discrete variables, the interpolation approach does not work well. To cope with this kind of systems, we propose a general methodology that exploits explicit model checking in an innovative way to automatically synthesize a (time-) optimal numerical controller from a plant specification and apply an optimized strengthening algorithm only on the most significant states, in order to reach an acceptable robustness degree. We implemented all the algorithms within our CGMurphi tool, an extension of the well-known CMurphi verifier, and tested the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to the well-known truck and trailer obstacles avoidance problem.
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Federico Mari, and Enrico Tronci. "CEGAR Based Bounded Model Checking of Discrete Time Hybrid Systems." In Hybrid Systems: Computation and Control (HSCC 2007), edited by A. Bemporad, A. Bicchi and G. C. Buttazzo, 399–412. Lecture Notes in Computer Science 4416. Springer, 2007. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-71493-4_32.
Abstract: Many hybrid systems can be conveniently modeled as Piecewise Affine Discrete Time Hybrid Systems PA-DTHS. As well known Bounded Model Checking (BMC) for such systems comes down to solve a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) feasibility problem. We present a SAT based BMC algorithm for automatic verification of PA-DTHSs. Using Counterexample Guided Abstraction Refinement (CEGAR) our algorithm gradually transforms a PA-DTHS verification problem into larger and larger SAT problems. Our experimental results show that our approach can handle PA-DTHSs that are more then 50 times larger than those that can be handled using a MILP solver.
Keywords: Model Checking, Abstraction, CEGAR, SAT, Hybrid Systems, DTHS
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Giuseppe Della Penna, Daniele Magazzeni, Alberto Tofani, Benedetto Intrigila, Igor Melatti, and Enrico Tronci. "Automated Generation Of Optimal Controllers Through Model Checking Techniques." In Informatics in Control Automation and Robotics. Selected Papers from ICINCO 2006, 107–119. Springer, 2008. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-79142-3_10.
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Amedeo Cesta, Alberto Finzi, Simone Fratini, Andrea Orlandini, and Enrico Tronci. "Merging Planning, Scheduling & Verification – A Preliminary Analysis." In In Proc. of 10th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation (ASTRA)., 2008.
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Amedeo Cesta, Alberto Finzi, Simone Fratini, Andrea Orlandini, and Enrico Tronci. "Validation and Verification Issues in a Timeline-based Planning System." In In E-Proc. of ICAPS Workshop on Knowledge Engineering for Planning and Scheduling., 2008.
Abstract: One of the key points to take into account to foster effective introduction of AI planning and scheduling systems in real world is to develop end user trust in the related technologies. Automated planning and scheduling systems often brings solutions to the users which are neither “obviousÃ¢â‚¬Âť nor immediately acceptable for them. This is due to the ability of these tools to take into account quite an amount of temporal and causal constraints and to employ resolution processes often designed to optimize the solution with respect to non trivial evaluation functions. To increase technology trust, the study of tools for verifying and validating plans and schedules produced by AI systems might be instrumental. In general, validation and verification techniques represent a needed complementary technology in developing domain independent architectures for automated problem solving. This paper presents a preliminary report of the issues concerned with the use of two software tools for formal verification of finite state systems to the validation of the solutions produced by MrSPOCK, a recent effort for building a timeline based planning tool in an ESA project.
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Federico Mari, Igor Melatti, Ivano Salvo, Enrico Tronci, Lorenzo Alvisi, Allen Clement, and Harry Li. "Model Checking Nash Equilibria in MAD Distributed Systems." In FMCAD '08: Proceedings of the 2008 International Conference on Formal Methods in Computer-Aided Design, edited by A. Cimatti and R. Jones, 1–8. Piscataway, NJ, USA: IEEE Press, 2008. ISSN: 978-1-4244-2735-2. DOI: 10.1109/FMCAD.2008.ECP.16.
Abstract: We present a symbolic model checking algorithm for verification of Nash equilibria in finite state mechanisms modeling Multiple Administrative Domains (MAD) distributed systems. Given a finite state mechanism, a proposed protocol for each agent and an indifference threshold for rewards, our model checker returns PASS if the proposed protocol is a Nash equilibrium (up to the given indifference threshold) for the given mechanism, FAIL otherwise. We implemented our model checking algorithm inside the NuSMV model checker and present experimental results showing its effectiveness for moderate size mechanisms. For example, we can handle mechanisms which corresponding normal form games would have more than $10^20$ entries. To the best of our knowledge, no model checking algorithm for verification of mechanism Nash equilibria has been previously published.
Keywords: Model Checking, MAD Distributed System, Nash Equilibrium
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Andrea Bobbio, Ester Ciancamerla, Saverio Di Blasi, Alessandro Iacomini, Federico Mari, Igor Melatti, Michele Minichino, Alessandro Scarlatti, Enrico Tronci, Roberta Terruggia et al. "Risk analysis via heterogeneous models of SCADA interconnecting Power Grids and Telco networks." In Proceedings of Fourth International Conference on Risks and Security of Internet and Systems (CRiSIS), 90–97., 2009. DOI: 10.1109/CRISIS.2009.5411974.
Abstract: The automation of power grids by means of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems has led to an improvement of power grid operations and functionalities but also to pervasive cyber interdependencies between power grids and telecommunication networks. Many power grid services are increasingly depending upon the adequate functionality of SCADA system which in turn strictly depends on the adequate functionality of its communication infrastructure. We propose to tackle the SCADA risk analysis by means of different and heterogeneous modeling techniques and software tools. We demonstrate the applicability of our approach through a case study on an actual SCADA system for an electrical power distribution grid. The modeling techniques we discuss aim at providing a probabilistic dependability analysis, followed by a worst case analysis in presence of malicious attacks and a real-time performance evaluation.
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Federico Mari, Igor Melatti, Ivano Salvo, Enrico Tronci, Lorenzo Alvisi, Allen Clement, and Harry Li. "Model Checking Coalition Nash Equilibria in MAD Distributed Systems." In Stabilization, Safety, and Security of Distributed Systems, 11th International Symposium, SSS 2009, Lyon, France, November 3-6, 2009. Proceedings, edited by R. Guerraoui and F. Petit, 531–546. Lecture Notes in Computer Science 5873. Springer, 2009. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-05118-0_37.
Abstract: We present two OBDD based model checking algorithms for the verification of Nash equilibria in finite state mechanisms modeling Multiple Administrative Domains (MAD) distributed systems with possibly colluding agents (coalitions) and with possibly faulty or malicious nodes (Byzantine agents). Given a finite state mechanism, a proposed protocol for each agent and the maximum sizes f for Byzantine agents and q for agents collusions, our model checkers return Pass if the proposed protocol is an ε-f-q-Nash equilibrium, i.e. no coalition of size up to q may have an interest greater than ε in deviating from the proposed protocol when up to f Byzantine agents are present, Fail otherwise. We implemented our model checking algorithms within the NuSMV model checker: the first one explicitly checks equilibria for each coalition, while the second represents symbolically all coalitions. We present experimental results showing their effectiveness for moderate size mechanisms. For example, we can verify coalition Nash equilibria for mechanisms which corresponding normal form games would have more than $5 \times 10^21$ entries. Moreover, we compare the two approaches, and the explicit algorithm turns out to outperform the symbolic one. To the best of our knowledge, no model checking algorithm for verification of Nash equilibria of mechanisms with coalitions has been previously published.
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Silvia Mazzini, Stefano Puri, Federico Mari, Igor Melatti, and Enrico Tronci. "Formal Verification at System Level." In In: DAta Systems In Aerospace (DASIA), Org. EuroSpace, Canadian Space Agency, CNES, ESA, EUMETSAT. Instanbul, Turkey, EuroSpace., 2009.
Abstract: System Level Analysis calls for a language comprehensible to experts with different background and yet precise enough to support meaningful analyses. SysML is emerging as an effective balance between such conflicting goals. In this paper we outline some the results obtained as for SysML based system level functional formal verification by an ESA/ESTEC study, with a collaboration among INTECS and La Sapienza University of Roma. The study focuses on SysML based system level functional requirements techniques.
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Amedeo Cesta, Alberto Finzi, Simone Fratini, Andrea Orlandini, and Enrico Tronci. "Flexible Timeline-Based Plan Verification." In KI 2009: Advances in Artificial Intelligence, 32nd Annual German Conference on AI, Paderborn, Germany, September 15-18, 2009. Proceedings, edited by B. Ã. ¤rbel Mertsching, M. Hund and M. Z. Aziz, 49–56. Lecture Notes in Computer Science 5803. Springer, 2009. ISSN: 978-3-642-04616-2. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04617-9_7.
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