state
Let an agent describe the state of anything by its variables, their values, the time of observation and the transitions between states.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Definition What defines a state.
State variables
Variables chosen.
Variables
Variables, their domains and units, admissible combinations and the state space; which values stay invariant and for how long.
- Which variables define the state here? definition
- Are they sufficient to predict behaviour? boundary
Domain
Physics, computing, devices.
Domain
Field and model.
- In which field and model is the state defined? definition
- Which theory gives the variables? provenance
Observation Knowing the current state.
Measurement
How values are obtained.
Observed values
Values, time and source.
- What are the current values, and when were they observed? measurement
- Which sensor or source reported them? provenance
Uncertainty
Confidence in the state.
Uncertainty
Accuracy and staleness.
- How certain and how recent is the state? measurement
- Could it have changed since? boundary
Transitions How states change.
Events
Triggers of change.
Transition
From, to and trigger.
- Which event moves the system to another state? definition
- Which transitions are allowed? boundary
Stability
Stable and unstable states.
Stability
Equilibrium and persistence.
- Is the state stable? boundary
- What would disturb it? definition
Representation Recording states.
Models
State machines and diagrams.
State model
Formal model used.
- Which formal model represents the states? provenance
- Is it complete? boundary
Data exchange
Sharing state between systems.
Exchange format
Format and semantics.
- How is the state shared with other systems? provenance
- Do both sides define it the same way? boundary
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Cross-cutting context
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- XCT
- Domain
- XCT.STA
What it is Filled
The condition of an object or system at a given time, described by the values of a set of variables that characterise it, such as a physical state, a machine's operating state or the state of a software object.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent describe the state of anything by its variables, their values, the time of observation and the transitions between states.
Distinguishing features Filled
- A state is a snapshot of variable values; a process is change over time.
- The same object can be described by different state variables in different models.
- Equilibrium means unchanged under given conditions; stability concerns behaviour under small perturbations.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- report a state without the time it was observed
- change the state of real systems without authority
Only with a human decision
- changes to the state of safety-critical systems
May
- describe and record states with timestamps
- explain state models
Moral aspects Filled
- accuracy of reported status
Who is affected
- users of monitored systems
Owners Filled
Steward
no universal owner; identify the custodian and rights for each state record
Master systems
- monitoring and control systems
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q483247 - registry parent class
- Q937228 - registry parent class
related
- state variable - variables that define it
- state transition - discrete events or continuous evolution
- process - change over time
- state machine - formal model
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.state-q3505845
- Wikidata: Q3505845 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3505845)
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
Not applicable
An abstract concept has no physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Shown as values of variables, status indicators or diagrams of states
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- list the variables that define a system's state
- record a state with its timestamp and source
- describe transitions between states
- explain related concepts such as state machines
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Stale state data used as if current
- Incompatible state definitions between systems
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- OMG Unified Modeling Language (UML) state machine diagrams
Context of use required Filled
- Describing and predicting how systems behave and change over time.
- physical state
- thermodynamic state
- quantum state
- state of a finite-state machine
- operating state of a device
- state of matter
Sources Filled
- Q3505845 - identity of the registry item, labels and sitelinks
- Unified Modeling Language, Version 2.5.1 - state machines
- State - state in computing
- Lectures on Dynamic Systems and Control - state in dynamical systems
Open questions
- Should states of matter and quantum states link here as kinds or be separate entries only?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q3505845/spec.json