Foundations for Functional Modelling of Technical Artefacts

- Status and prospects -

Prof.Emer. Morten Lind, Technical University of Denmark

The main purpose of the paper is to present an overview of the main findings of my recent book [1] and to discuss potentials for future development of MFM.

The book is focussed on functional modelling of socio-cyber-physical systems (SCPS) which includes interactions between physical processes, control agents and human operators. The foundations are developed using theories of causality, action types and semiotics. A distinction is made between physical and cognitive (semiotic) actions and four separate perspectives are defined for modelling functional relations between the physical processes, control agents, and between the human operator and the technology (the physical process and the control systems).

Concepts of function, action, goal and purpose are often seen as synonymes and sometimes confused. It is argued in the book that actions and functions should be clearly separated in order to distinguish between the function of things (equipment and materials) and the functions of actions. Furthermore, two aspects of functions should be considered, the transformation and the role aspects. These distinctions are developed through two separate formalisations using VonWright's theory of action types (the transformations) and the actant model proposed by A. Greimas (the roles). The two formallizations are combined into a theory of actions systems which introduce principles for composition/decomposition of physical and cognitive actions providing the basis for representation of means-end relations.

The formal structures developed in the book are already included in Multilevel Flow Modelling and the book therefore shows how they can be grounded in more fundamental theories of action and semiotics. The formalisations presented in the book also indicate possible extensions of MFM which will be discussed.

[1] Lind, M. Foundations for Functional Modelling of Technical Artefacts. Springer Nature, 2024.

Micro Coupling and Macro Dynamics of Cooperative Intelligence

Prof. Naoto Iwahashi, Okayama Prefectural University, Japan

This talk presents the mathematical and cognitive analyses of the cooperative properties of humans and machines and the development of cooperative machines. The analyses are from the micro coupling of two-agent cooperation and the macro dynamics of collective agents in physical and language cooperation, including driving, joint-carrying, language acquisition/evolution, and dialogue.