An Approach to Self-adaptive Software Based on Supervisory Control

Self-adaptive software systems use observations of their own behavior, and that of their environment, to select and enact adaptations in accordance with some objective(s). This adaptation is a higher-level system function that performs optimizations, manages faults, or otherwise supports achieving an objective via changes in the running system. In this paper, we show how this capability can be realized using techniques found in hierarchical control systems, and we discuss interrelated issues of stability, assurance, and implementation.