Usability challenges in the design workflow of reusable PLC software for machine and plant automation

Author

Braun, Steven ; Obermeier, Martin ; Vogel-Heuser, Birgit

Author_Institution

Inst. of Autom. & Inf. Syst., Tech. Univ. Munchen, Garching, Germany

fYear

2012

fDate

20-23 March 2012

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

6

Abstract

Software development for PLC based systems is changing. In addition to the traditional, procedural programming languages for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) from the IEC 61131-3, increasingly object-oriented elements are used, as defined in the object-oriented extension of IEC 61131-3. This paper discusses observed effects of the change on the usability of design methods for software developers. Subsequently, a model-driven, tool supported approach for automation systems is presented. Finally, an outlook on the next steps for the realization of the underlying concept is given.

Keywords

control engineering computing; factory automation; object-oriented languages; production engineering computing; programmable controllers; software reusability; IEC 61131-3; machine automation; model-driven tool supported approach; object-oriented elements; plant automation; procedural programming languages; programmable logic controllers; reusable PLC software design workflow; software development; Automation; IEC standards; Object oriented modeling; Programming; Sensors; Software; Unified modeling language; IEC 61131–3; PLC; automation; model-driven; usability;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Systems, Signals and Devices (SSD), 2012 9th International Multi-Conference on

Conference_Location

Chemnitz

Print_ISBN

978-1-4673-1590-6

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4673-1589-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/SSD.2012.6198055

Filename

6198055