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Fundamental systems concepts: “The right stuff” for 21st Century technology

  • Foundations of CAST: Theory and Methodology
  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Computer Aided Systems Theory — CAST '94

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 1105))

Abstract

The next century will be characterized by ambitious attempts to design, construct, or manage ultralarge systems such as high bandwidth global communication networks, flexible manufacturing systems with high autonomy, and ecosystems distributed over large geographical regions. Systems concepts and principles are needed to deal with such overwhelming complexity. Fads continue to flash on the scene and fade just as fast. The enduring advances have a fundamental robustness consistent with systems-based methodology.

The goal of Computer Aided Systems Technology (CAST)[16] is to ”bundle” system theoretical problem solving techniques into user-friendly, easy-to-handle and easy-to-learn packages to meet the challenges of the future. This goal would be straightforward to achieve were it not for the still immature state of systems theory in relation to Grand and National Challenge problems. In this paper, we discuss two main areas where the deficiencies in systems concepts and methodologies are apparent: 1) proliferation of modelling formalisms, and 2) incremental model-based systems engineering. We close with a discussion of how two decendents of early cybernetics, computer science and systems research, can recombine to advance CAST.

This research was partially supported by NSF HPCC Grand Challenge Application Group Grant ASC-9318169 and employed the CM-5 at NCSA under grant MCA94P02

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electrical & Computer Eng., The University of Arizona, 85721, Tucson, AZ

    Bernard P. Zeigler

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  1. Bernard P. Zeigler
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George J. Klir Tuncer I. Ören

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© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Zeigler, B.P. (1996). Fundamental systems concepts: “The right stuff” for 21st Century technology. In: Klir, G.J., Ören, T.I. (eds) Computer Aided Systems Theory — CAST '94. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1105. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-61478-8_65

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-61478-8_65

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-61478-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-68600-2

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