What is a Cyber-Physical System?

A Cyber-Physical System (CPS) is a general concept of interwoven software and physical components. The CPS uses real world data to control and monitor actions through algorithms.

Therefore, the CPS acquires data from a network of sensors, interprets them and solves tasks by issuing commands to a network of actuators (e.g. production robots). This can be as simple as opening and closing a window at certain temperatures and up to the complexity of all required information for a fully autonomous production entity. A cyber-physical system separates from traditional embedded systems through its network of sensors, actuator elements and complex software that allows to self-assess situations and react autonomously to changes.