An OPC UA interface for an evolvable ISA88 control module

Author

Van der Linden, Dirk ; Mannaert, Herwig ; Kastner, Wolfgang ; Vanderputten, Vincent ; Peremans, Herbert ; Verelst, Jan

Author_Institution

Electro Mech. Res. Group, Artesis Univ. Coll. of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

fYear

2011

fDate

5-9 Sept. 2011

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

9

Abstract

Normalized systems theory has recently been proposed to engineer evolvable information systems. This theory includes a potential of improvement in control software for the automation of production systems. This paper aims at contributing towards evolvable and therefore easy-to-maintain control software. We introduce IEC 61131-3 code which complies with the theorems of normalized systems, forming a building block which complies with the model of an ISA88 control module, accessible via an OPC UA interface. Since OPC UA brings control software to a new level, it enables original intra-process projects to interoperate in an inter-process context. OPC UA offers new possibilities for system integration, but might also lead to a larger impact of evolvability problems.

Keywords

IEC standards; control engineering computing; production control; production engineering computing; software maintenance; IEC 61131-3 code; OPC UA interface; control software; evolvable ISA88 control module; evolvable information system; interoperation; intraprocess project; normalized system theory; production system automation; system integration; Automation; Control systems; Hardware; IEC standards; Production; Software;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation (ETFA), 2011 IEEE 16th Conference on

Conference_Location

Toulouse

ISSN

1946-0740

Print_ISBN

978-1-4577-0017-0

Electronic_ISBN

1946-0740

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ETFA.2011.6058978

Filename

6058978