Special issue on “self-improving self integration”

“Self-improving system integration” (SISSY) is a research initiative that aims to master the ever-changing demands of system organisation in the presence of highly-dynamic autonomous subsystems, evolving architectures, and unpredictable open environments. In contrast to traditional system modelling, design and development – typically performed by engineers, offline – the SISSY vision promotes automated integration-related decisions, performed during run-time. This implies a change of responsibilities, from engineers to the system itself, which must now find ways to restructure and reassemble itself so as to achieve its objectives. In addition to self-integrating and self-improving internally, such systems must equally be able to cooperate or co-exist with other autonomous systems, which may dynamically join a shared environment. In this editorial, we briefly introduce the ‘self-improving system integration’ initiative and summarise the contents of this special issue.