How can automata monitor distributed CPS?
Monitoring Spatially Distributed Cyber-Physical Systems with Alternating Finite Automata
March 31, 2025
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2503.21906This paper introduces a method for monitoring spatially distributed cyber-physical systems (like drone swarms) using a formal logic called STREL (Spatio-Temporal Reach and Escape Logic). It translates STREL formulas into a type of automaton (alternating finite automaton or AFA) that can efficiently check if the system's behavior satisfies the specified rules. The work also extends this to weighted AFAs, enabling quantitative analysis (not just boolean pass/fail) of how well the system meets the rules.
Key points for LLM-based multi-agent systems:
- Formal Verification/Monitoring: The AFA translation provides a robust way to verify or monitor if LLM agents in a multi-agent system are behaving according to specified requirements, especially those involving spatial relationships and dynamic interactions.
- Quantitative Analysis: The weighted AFA allows for measuring how well the agents adhere to the rules, offering more nuanced insights than simple boolean checks. This could be valuable for assessing LLM agent performance or identifying areas for improvement.
- Dynamic Environments: STREL and the AFA framework handle dynamic spatial configurations, which is crucial for multi-agent systems where LLM agents may be interacting in changing virtual or physical environments.
- Resource-Constrained Scenarios: The paper addresses the computational complexity of monitoring spatial properties, making the approach potentially suitable for real-world deployments of LLM-based multi-agent systems where resources might be limited.