Runtime Dependability Certificates for Modular Multi-Agent Production Systems

Abstract

Modern production systems face increasing demands for reconfigurability, driven by product variability and shortened innovation cycles. In multi-agent system (MAS) architectures, the capability assumptions that underlie certification decisions may become invalid during operation due to reconfiguration or parameter changes. Traditional verification, however, relies on static, design-time models. This paper proposes runtime dependability certificates (RDCs), which are machine-interpretable contracts whose validity is continuously enforced at runtime and automatically revoked when certified conditions are violated. The framework separates probabilistic, large language model (LLM)-based capability extraction from a deterministic certification core. This ensures that automated knowledge extraction does not compromise formal dependability guarantees. Certificate validity is enforced through three identity gates that cover process input binding, resource identity attestation, and continuous runtime monitoring. A laboratory case study combining additive manufacturing and robotic handling demonstrates that RDCs enable agents to detect capability violations while avoiding unnecessary reassessment and maintaining coordination efficiency.