SBE configurator: A family model generation tool for supervisory control synthesis

Marzhan Baubekova; Koen van Eldik; Joanna van de Mortel-Fronczak; Wan Fokkink; Jacobus Rooda

doi:10.1007/s10626-026-00440-1

SBE configurator: A family model generation tool for supervisory control synthesis

Marzhan Baubekova^*
, Koen van Eldik
, Joanna van de Mortel-Fronczak
, Wan Fokkink
, Jacobus Rooda

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

A large number of ship locks in the Netherlands require renovation as they reach their end of life-cycle or do not adhere to the changing environment. These renovations imply the redesign of their control software. This paper explores the use of synthesis-based engineering (SBE) to achieve correct-by-construction supervisory controllers for these systems. To address the complexity and scale of this task, a configurator for SBE models is proposed, enabling the automated generation of controllers and model simulation based on mechanical parameters. The accompanying tool improves efficiency, quality, and reduces human error and is already in use for ship lock supervisors in Lelystad and Maasbracht. Although developed for ship locks, the structure of the tool is adaptable to support other families of systems.

Original language	English
Article number	16
Pages (from-to)	1-36
Number of pages	36
Journal	Discrete Event Dynamic Systems: Theory and Applications
Volume	36
Issue number	1
Early online date	22 Apr 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10626-026-00440-1
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 22 Apr 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2026.

Funding

This work was supported by Rijkswaterstaat, the executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Water Management and Infrastructure.

Funders
Rijkswaterstaat
Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management

Keywords

Discrete-event systems
Finite automata
Parametrization
Simulation
Supervisory control
Template design

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10.1007/s10626-026-00440-1

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title = "SBE configurator: A family model generation tool for supervisory control synthesis",

abstract = "A large number of ship locks in the Netherlands require renovation as they reach their end of life-cycle or do not adhere to the changing environment. These renovations imply the redesign of their control software. This paper explores the use of synthesis-based engineering (SBE) to achieve correct-by-construction supervisory controllers for these systems. To address the complexity and scale of this task, a configurator for SBE models is proposed, enabling the automated generation of controllers and model simulation based on mechanical parameters. The accompanying tool improves efficiency, quality, and reduces human error and is already in use for ship lock supervisors in Lelystad and Maasbracht. Although developed for ship locks, the structure of the tool is adaptable to support other families of systems.",

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AU - Fokkink, Wan

AU - Rooda, Jacobus

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2026.

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KW - Simulation

KW - Supervisory control

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SBE configurator: A family model generation tool for supervisory control synthesis

Abstract

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Keywords

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