Cyber physical systems maintenance with explainable unsupervised machine learning

Abstract

As cyber-physical systems (CPS) continue to play a pivotal role in modern technological landscapes, the need for robust and transparent machine learning (ML) models becomes imperative. This research paper explores the integration of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) principles into unsupervised machine learning (UML) techniques for enhancing the interpretability and understanding of complex relationships within CPS. The key focus areas include the application of self-organizing maps (SOMs) as a representative unsupervised learning algorithm and the incorporation of interpretable ML methodologies. The study delves into the challenges posed by the inherently intricate nature of CPS data, characterized by the fusion of physical processes and digital components. Traditional black-box approaches in unsupervised learning often hinder the comprehension of model-generated insights, making them less suitable for critical CPS applications. In response, this research introduces a novel framework that leverages SOMs, a powerful unsupervised technique, while concurrently ensuring interpretability through XAI techniques. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of existing XAI methods and their adaptation to unsupervised learning paradigms. Special emphasis is placed on developing transparent representations of learned patterns within the CPS domain. The proposed approach aims to enhance model interpretability through the generation of human-understandable visualizations and explanations, bridging the gap between advanced ML models and domain experts.