Component-based engineering of distributed control and automation software

In this article a brief introduction to the IEC61499 standard is made. This standard proposes reference architecture and language constructs for developing event-based software models for distributed control and automation systems. Based on this standard, a methodology is presented addressing a systematic stepwise software development for automation applications. The first step considers a high level abstract design of the software by the use of the Composite Function Block concept of the standard and the subsequent steps address the fine grained development of models for the components of the first step abstract design. At the final step the executable code is generated. Available software engineering tools that can be utilized to support the design steps are also presented.