Title: Virtual start-up of plants using formal methods

Authors: Sebastian Preuße; Christian Gerber; Hans-Michael Hanisch

Addresses: Institute of Computer Science, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany Kurt-Mothes-Straße 1, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany. ' Institute of Computer Science, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany Kurt-Mothes-Straße 1, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany. ' Institute of Computer Science, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany Kurt-Mothes-Straße 1, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany

Abstract: Control software of a manufacturing system is usually designed separated from the real plant or its simulation. Undesired behavior can occur after transferring software to the controller. At best, errors are recognized when starting-up, but there can exist failures that occur rarely and seemingly randomly during operation phase. This problem is of high significance, since the complexity of automated systems rises. Hence, control software bugs should be considered in early project phase. The approach presents an integrated framework that facilitates virtual start-up of a plant. It applies formal methods to simulate and even verify control software. This eases control software design and reduces plant downtimes.

Keywords: formal modelling; net condition-event systems; plant behaviour; speci?cation; virtual start-ups; test case generation; veri?cation; manufacturing control; control software bugs; simulation; plant start-ups; control software design; plant downtime.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2011.045401

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2011 Vol.42 No.2/3, pp.108 - 126

Published online: 11 Feb 2012 *

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