Control Software Engineering Research Articles

Finite State Machine Based Modelling of Discrete Control Algorithm in LAD Diagram Language With Use of New Generation Engineering Software

In the paper there is described a process of modeling the discrete control system for a chemical reactor. In the design of the control algorithm there was used Finite State Machine methodology as one of the more effective for modeling complex control tasks. There were identified input and output signals of the process, the dependencies and operating rules and the system operation was described. The modeled algorithm was implemented in LAD diagram language with use of novel control engineering software - TIA Portal by Siemens. The implementation process is described and discussed, implementation results are shown and a conclusion is drawn.

A requirements engineering process for control engineering software

This paper presents a novel approach for the specification of control engineering software. The proposal is based on software engineering techniques which have improved the performance and quality of software processes. Some of the best practices for the building of software products are included. An example of the proposal is given for the requirements specification of the 1992 ACC robust control benchmark.

Simulation environment for designing the dynamic motion behaviour of the mechatronic system machine tool

Machine tools consist of mechanical and electronic components and software, and thus constitute mechatronic systems. To make sure that they work reliably in the overall system these different components have to be designed in coordination. This process is complicated by the fact that virtual prototyping is becoming increasingly important in machine tool design and every development department employs different software tools, e.g. finite element method, multibody system simulation, computer aided control engineering software, etc. Moreover, every department has its own method of setting up models within these programs. The result is that various sets of data are produced that are mutually incompatible due to different modelling methods. This paper describes a new method for setting up a model for the mechatronic system machine tool, with special emphasis on the design of its motion dynamics. The main objective of the method is to standardize the model set-up within the different simulation tools with a view to producing reusable data. A concept for data management and provision is also presented.

D304 METHODS FOR THE VIRTUAL DESIGN OF MECHATRONIC RAILWAY VEHICLES

The prime condition for the virtual design of mechatronic railway vehicles is a software environment comprising the different computational engineering tools being interconnected by efficient interfaces. The paper presents such an environment with a multibody system software in its centre and a couple of interfaces to other engineering software tools around. Especially in view of mechatronics, the different types of coupling to control engineering software are of interest. The simulation of railway vehicles calls for a specific module describing, besides others, the highly nonlinear contact between wheel and rail. The state-of-the-art of such a simulation tool chain is illustrated for the complex analysis and design issue of a “Mechatronic Train”.

Object-oriented Data Representation for Computer Aided Control Engineering

This paper examines the application of object-oriented database management systems to computer-aided control engineering. The system representation models and data types employed by existing contro1 engineering packages for system representation are surveyed. The object classes that are required are derived from this and an object model for system representation is developed. The database management facilities provided by existing control engineering software are minimal, and the facilities required by an integrated working environment are outlined, including model management. The rôle of open systems in definillg and accessing model classes is examined with a view to developing a standardised framework for object-oriented computer-aided control engineering.

A_Flextool: A Concurrent Control Engineering Tool for Control Analysis and Design of ‘Active Structures’

A structural dynamics and control engineering integration of data and computational procedures for analysis and design of active flexible structures is discussed. The interactive computational and database software environment, called A FLEXTOOL, serves for structural-model handling, sensor/actuator positioning and control oriented finite-element model-order reduction. Via the open module concept of the engineering database system a close interplay of A_FLEXTOOL and the general control analysis and optimization based design packages A_RASP and A_MOPS is possible This Concurrent Control Engineering software environment is used to investigate ‘control-structure interaction’ for a generic flexible structure.

Some Cooperative Efforts on Control Engineering Software in Europe

Recent cooperative initiatives in Europe in the area of developing control engineering software are described. One initiative is concentrated towards the development of a numerically reliable basic control library and another initiative deals with improving West European cooperation on various issues related to the use of PC's in education and research.