An Extensible Architecture for Homeostasis in Electronic Systems

An EPSRC award for Dr. J Timmis, Prof A Tyrrell and Dr A Greensted to run from July 2006 - Sept 2009 at the Department of Electronics, University of York, UK

Many electronic systems would benefit from the inclusion of self-regulatory mechanisms. Imagine an engineered system that can "predict", or be aware of, imminent threats to its specified operation, and then, based on this prediction, alter its operation or configuration to circumvent the effects of the threat. Biological systems perform equivalent feats of self-regulation; a mammal for example can cope very well with a certain level of damage being inflicted upon it, and still continue its operation. How is this possible? This project presents a way forward in electronic engineering which represents an opportunity for engineered systems to break new ground in generating adaptive, autonomous and self-regulating behaviour. The focus of the research is on one of the most impressive abilities of living organisms: their ability to ensure a reasonably stable internal state despite wildly changing external environmental factors. This property, often termed homeostasis, is a major contributor to an organism’s autonomy and we feel future engineered systems.

The project aim is to develop an architecture that endows electronic systems with the ability to self-regulate their physical and operational state within highly dynamic environments.

Website to appear.