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Researcher

Bert Van Acker

  • Research Expertise:During my PhD, I mainly focussed on the definition and practical implementation of the validity frame concept, a method to capture and use the validity of simulation models. We weaved the validity frame concept within the complete model-based development process, where we showed it's value within different activities, e.g. as mechanism to automate and optimize X-in-the-loop V&V experiments. Besides th validity frame concept, I also work on knowledge models and ontologies, which we e.g. used to generate workflow models. Current research focus is on robotics and digital twin integration, where we work on methods and techniques, e.g. domain-specific models an code generators, to define hybrid architectures in an abstract way, and optimize the (hybrid) embedded deployement.
  • Keywords:ROBOTICS, MODEL-BASED SYSTEM ENGINEERING, VALIDITY FRAMES, CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS, DIGITAL TWIN, SAFETY, VALIDITY, MODEL DRIVEN ENGINEERING, PROCESS MODELS, ONTOLOGIES, Other technical sciences
  • Disciplines:Aerospace engineering, Automotive engineering, Design theories and methods, Energy generation, conversion and storage engineering, Manufacturing engineering, Marine engineering, Mechanics, Mechatronics and robotics, Thermodynamics, Other mechanical and manufacturing engineering, Biological system engineering, Biomaterials engineering, Biomechanical engineering, Medical biotechnology, Other (bio)medical engineering, Environmental engineering and biotechnology, Industrial biotechnology, Other biotechnology, bio-engineering and biosystem engineering, Geomatic engineering, Product development, Safety engineering, Other engineering and technology
  • Research techniques:The methods and techniques that I develop are mainly focussing on improving the model-based design processes of cyber-physical systems. This includes the development of domain-specific notations, custom model-to-model transformations, custom code generators. One of the main contributions within the model-based development is the definition and implementation of the validity frame, a concept used to capture the valdity of simulation models, nicely weaved within the model-based engineering processes. Besided the pure model-based methods, I also work on software-hardware architecture within robotics, digital twins and software-intensive industrial automation context with as goal deployement/commissioning optimization.
  • Users of research expertise:Potential users of our methods and techniques are system architects, embedded software engineers, process engineers, robotics engineers, etc. In general, all engineers involved within the development process of cyber-physical systems