Recent Advances in Systems Engineering and Singularity Re-Visited

This presentation discusses the profound technological changes that have taken place during the last 2 decades, the main characteristics being erosion and convergence. It is pointed out that the advances are at the edge of traditional disciplines and the connections between different disciplines are becoming the core of the new technologies, in a not multi, not inter but a transdisciplinary manner.  It is argued that convergence fuels convergence and results in emergence. Four distinct phases of industrial revolution, culminating in Industry 4.0 are discussed. The emerging paradigms of big data and cyber physical systems, supported by new disruptive advances both on software and hardware side, as well as the cross-fertilization of concepts and the amalgamation of information, communication and control technology driven approaches are pointed out to. Most importantly, the changes observed in industry are discussed, together with the paradigm change from industrial electronics to industrial informatics and finally to cyber physical systems. The presentation is concluded with a look into the future that includes a discussion of symbiotic autonomous systems and the possible transition from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0.