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| %&tex | |||
| \chapter{introduction} | |||
| \chapter{Introduction} | |||
| \label{introduction} | |||
| \section{Context of this Thesis} | |||
| Design methodology for \ac{cps} is one of the research topics within the department of Robotics and Mechatronics. | |||
| A \emph{design method} for rapid development of embedded control software is proposed by \textcite{broenink_rapid_2019} as part of this research topic. | |||
| The design method in the paper is used to design a control system on an existing hardware system. | |||
| The result is an operational, software based, control system for a mini-segway. | |||
| About this result, Broenink and Broenink make the following statement: "this [result] does not mean that the same techniques cannot be applied to the physical part of the system." | |||
| The goal of this thesis is to substantiate this statement with a case study wherein a physical system is developed from scratch according to the design method. | |||
| Directly from the start of this research it was clear that, without adjustment, the design method cannot be applied to the physical part of the system. | |||
| The required adjustments consist of refining and extending the proposed design method into a \emph{design plan} that can be used in a \emph{case study}. | |||
| \section{Research Objective} | |||
| The research is summarized in the following two research questions. | |||
| \begin{itemize} | |||
| \item Which techniques of the design method can be applied in the development of hardware? | |||
| \item Which adaptations are required to create a design method that is suitable for the development of hardware? | |||
| \end{itemize} | |||
| \section{Approach} | |||
| This research revolves around performing a development process according to the design method in the form of a case study. | |||
| However, there are a couple of steps required prior to the start of the case study. | |||
| The first step is to produce a concrete design plan based on the design method. | |||
| The concrete design plan improves the evaluation of the design techniques. | |||
| The abstract form of the design method leaves room for interpretation. | |||
| This uncertainty hampers the evaluation process, because it is impossible to point out flaws in something that was not specified in the first place. | |||
| Therefore, the design method is assessed and detail is added to get a concrete design plan. | |||
| However, the design method focusses on the rapid development principles and modelling techniques, and does not cover the design steps outside of that focus. | |||
| These steps, like problem definition and system specifications, are a crucial part of the design process and are added to create the concrete design plan. | |||
| The added steps are based on the steps in a \ac{se} approach. | |||
| With a design plan to use in the case study there are two steps left. | |||
| With one step being an \emph{evaluation plan} to ensure complete and consistent feedback during the case study. | |||
| The design plan consists of multiple design steps that are performed in succession. | |||
| The evaluation plan consists of a list of questions that have to be evaluated for each design step. | |||
| There are specific questions that evaluate the definition or the execution of the design step. | |||
| The other step is to provide a \emph{subject} to develop in the case study. | |||
| Normally, the desired result of a design process is the optimal end product. | |||
| However, the goal of this research is to evaluate the design method, not to develop a product. | |||
| One of the requirements of the possible subjects is therefore a minimum level of complexity, aiming to cover all essentials of the design method. | |||
| Some other requirements, based on practical decisions like budget, tools, and time, were defined as well. | |||
| Based on the requirements, the subject of choice is "Writing a tweet on a whiteboard". | |||
| With something to develop, a method to develop, and a method to evaluated the case study is executed. | |||
| The result is a partial prototype of a whiteboard writer and a evaluation document. | |||
| The evaluation of the case study is then used to suggest an improved design method for the physical part of the system. | |||
| \section{Structure} | |||
| The refinement of the design method and adding design steps is done in \autoref{analysis} to define a concrete design plan. | |||
| The evaluation plan and subject of development is defined in \autoref{case_method}. | |||
| This preparation is then performed as a case study in \autoref{case_experiment}. | |||
| In \autoref{case_evaluation} the case study is evaluated. | |||
| In \autoref{reflection} the evaluation is reflected, resulting in proposed improvements. | |||
| These improvements are processed in \autoref{improved_design} into a new design method. | |||
| And finally, the research is concluded in \autoref{conclusion}. | |||