Adapting Scrum Development Method for the Development of Cyber-physical Systems

At present, the development of Cyber-Physical Systems is governed by methods from embedded systems. However, the complexity of developing human-centered software, hardware, and services is difficult to control. Agile approaches from software engineering to yield fast learning of problem and solution spaces. In particular, Scrum proposes iterative problem solving with short cycles, with a strict development schedule, some tools such as a Scrum board, and a stable team. This paper probes the application of Scrum as agile development method to realize a cyber-physical system with a multi-disciplinary team. A student team with little familiarity in sailing had to develop an embodied sailing simulator in 5 weeks time. Through applying roles, procedures, and tools implied by Scrum, the team could quickly acquire user knowledge to define and verify requirements. One major benefit of the Scrum development was that it stimulated accelerated delivery and focused on weekly cycles or sprints. After each sprint, a part of the product was delivered as a working prototype that was evaluated by users. The final result was a competitive sailing game with an immersive head-mounted display and a custom-made controller including haptic feedback. This game was presented to the sailing coaches and athletes as well as the general public. This application is a case study on the utility of Scrum in multi-disciplinary development processes that encompass CPS. It forced the team to focus on usability and domain knowledge that is iteratively assessed by the client or focus groups. Furthermore, a Scrum board establishes a physical planning instrument that all team members and other stakeholders can access and understand.