Reliability Analysis of Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are marking our time and they are characterized by the smooth integration of cyber and physical parts. This integration carries along both challenges and new opportunities. The combination of software and hardware elements implies more complex systems that are prone to intricate interdependencies that affect the overall reliability. To this, usually, we need to add the human-computer interaction that is also a vital aspect of the functioning of CPS, which further complicates the reliability calculations. Unreliable systems can mean huge losses, both financially as well as in human lives. On a positive note, CPS have data as a central element of their operation. The availability and prevalence of data present a new opportunity to transform the ways in which reliability assessment has been traditionally performed. The goal of this contribution is to provide a holistic overview of the reliability analysis of CPS, as well as identify the impact that data and new data infrastructures may have on it. We, furthermore, illustrate the key points through two well-known cases of CPS, smart buildings and smart factories.