Control and configuration of software-defined machines

A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for hardware control, the computer program product comprising code which causes one or more processors to perform operations of:

• obtaining a hardware design for a mechanical system comprising a plurality of components that comprises a liquid piston heat engine;
• describing couplings between the plurality of components;
• defining a plurality of layers for the mechanical system;
• and
• implementing the mechanical system that comprises the liquid piston heat engine across the plurality of layers based on the couplings between the plurality of components.

A system for hardware control comprising:

• a memory which stores instructions;
• one or more processors coupled to the memory wherein the one or more processors, when executing the instructions which are stored, are configured to:
• obtain a hardware design for a mechanical system comprising a plurality of components that comprises a liquid piston heat engine;
• describe couplings between the plurality of components;
• define a plurality of layers for the mechanical system;
• and
• implement the mechanical system that comprises the liquid piston heat engine across the plurality of layers based on the couplings between the plurality of components.