A Model-Based Assessment for the Solution Space of a Cognitive Coffee Robot Waiter

Cognitive products are tangible and durable things with cognitive capabilities that meet and exceed user expectations by using cognitive functions, e.g. to perceive, to learn, to reason, etc., to reduce the need for human input. This paper presents a model-based assessment of the solution space for cognitive products. So far, the design of cognitive products has been based on prototype-oriented approaches, which mainly focus on cognitive algorithms, relying too much on designer ́s experience, beliefs or ad hoc arbitrated processes and following as a consequence the “design it now and fix it later!”–philosophy. A model-based assessment of the solution space would enable a better and early estimation of design alternatives that meet not only software requirements but also hardware requirements from the very early stages down to system structural and behavioural aspects in highly dynamic and uncertain environments. The conventional MBSE approach has been adapted to cognitive products and is demonstrated using a cognitive coffee robot waiter.