The Experts below are selected from a list of 282 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Birgit Vogelheuser - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • a model driven approach on object oriented plc programming for Manufacturing systems with regard to usability
    IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 2015
    Co-Authors: Martin Obermeier, Steven Braun, Birgit Vogelheuser
    Abstract:

    This paper presents the modular Automation for reuse in Manufacturing systems (modAT4rMS) approach to support the model-driven engineering (MDE) of object-oriented Manufacturing Automation software with regard to its usability and software modularity. With usability, we refer to the aspects’ effectiveness, efficiency, and user acceptance as defined by ISO 9241-11. The modAT4rMS notations are based on selected features from the unified modeling language (UML) and the systems modeling language (SysML), and iteratively further developed by a series of empirical studies with industrial practitioners, as well as mechatronics trainees. With modAT4rMS, an MDE approach for programmable logic controller (PLC) programming was developed with the goal to facilitate modular object-oriented programming of PLC software by improving the representation of the relationships between the structure and behavior diagram types, and by reducing the level of abstraction in the structure model. modAT4rMS notations for PLC software structure and software behavior modeling are presented and illustrated with a modeling example using a modAT4rMS editor prototype. For the evaluation of the developed notations, the results from a study with 168 participants are presented, showing the benefits of this new approach in comparison with the classic procedural paradigm (IEC 61131-3) and the domain-specific UML profile (plcML) in regard to programming performance and usability aspects. Finally, the advantages and limitations of the approach are discussed, and an outlook for further development is given.

  • enhancing a model based engineering approach for distributed Manufacturing Automation systems with characteristics and design patterns
    Journal of Systems and Software, 2015
    Co-Authors: Alexander Fay, Birgit Vogelheuser, Timo Frank, Karin Eckert, Thomas Hadlich, Christian Diedrich
    Abstract:

    A model-based engineering (MBE) approach for distributed Automation systems is proposed.The approach allows considering non-functional requirements along the workflow.The approach combines notation, explicit characteristics and design patterns.The approach has been evaluated by case studies.The approach has proven to be advantageous compared to classical approaches. Recent trends in modern Manufacturing, such as the growing need for flexibility and the increasing degree of Automation in industrial facilities, require distributed control solutions. Implementations of such control schemas and underlying architectures come along with an exponential increase of the Automation system's complexity. Therefore, methods for supporting Automation engineers during the development processes are highly required. This paper presents an approach to supporting model-based engineering (MBE) of distributed Manufacturing Automation systems. The approach is based on the combination of notation, characteristics, and design patterns across multiple levels of an adapted development process. Accordingly, a prototypical support tool has been implemented. The modeling approach has been evaluated by case studies and additional usability experiments to determine the benefit of its application within the design of Manufacturing Automation systems. Display Omitted

  • changeability of Manufacturing Automation systems using an orchestration engine for programmable logic controllers
    IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2015
    Co-Authors: Ulrich T Buhrer, Christoph Legat, Birgit Vogelheuser
    Abstract:

    Abstract To allow companies of the Manufacturing domain to satisfy customer demands and withstand increasing global competition, production Automation processes have to become more efficient, stable and flexible. For this purpose, aspects of changeability and adaptiveness of Automation systems have to be considered. Within this paper, a concept for an Orchestration Engine is proposed, which aims at providing the required degrees of flexibility within the field level control software. This Orchestration Engine is able to flexibly adapt its behavior during operation and is also able to adapt to physical changes of the production environment. For the implementation of this approach, existing concepts and technologies of model-driven engineering are utilized as a starting point for system modelling and automatic code generation, which is realized by model to text transformations. In order to allow application of the proposed concept to existing PLCs, requirements of the predominant IEC 61131-3 standard, such as cyclic execution, are taken into account.

  • usability experiments to evaluate uml sysml based model driven software engineering notations for logic control in Manufacturing Automation
    Journal of Software Engineering and Applications, 2014
    Co-Authors: Birgit Vogelheuser
    Abstract:

    Many industrial companies and researchers are looking for more efficient model driven engineering approaches (MDE) in software engineering of Manufacturing Automation systems (MS) especially for logic control programming, but are uncertain about the applicability and effort needed to implement those approaches in comparison to classical Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming with IEC 61131-3. The paper summarizes results of usability experiments evaluating UML and SysML as software engineering notations for a MDE applied in the domain of Manufacturing systems. Modeling MS needs to cover the domain specific characteristics, i.e. hybrid process, real time requirements and communication requirements. In addition the paper presents factors, constraint and practical experience for the development of further usability experiments. The paper gives examples of notational expressiveness and weaknesses of UML and SysML. The appendix delivers detailed master models, representing the correct best suited model, and evaluation schemes of the experiment, which is helpful if setting up own empirical experiments.

  • model driven engineering of Manufacturing Automation software projects a sysml based approach
    Mechatronics, 2014
    Co-Authors: Birgit Vogelheuser, Daniel Schütz, Timo Frank, Christoph Legat
    Abstract:

    This paper comprises a SysML-based approach to support the model-driven engineering (MDE) of Manufacturing Automation Software Projects (MASP). The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is adapted to define the SysML-AT (SysML for Automation), a specialized language profile that covers (non-)functional requirements, corresponding software applications and properties of proprietary hardware components. Furthermore, SysML-AT supports an automated software generation for run-time environments conforming to IEC 61131-3. A prototypical tool support was realized for adapted SysML Parametric Diagrams (PD) inside an industrial Automation software development tool. Coupling the model editor and online data from the provided run-time environment enables direct debugging inside the model. The approach was evaluated by several case studies and additional usability experiments. With the latter, the suitability of the MDE approach for future users was proven.

Daniel Schütz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • An Assessment of the Potentials and Challenges in Future Approaches for Automation Software
    Industrial Agents: Emerging Applications of Software Agents in Industry, 2015
    Co-Authors: Birgit Vogel-heuser, Jens Folmer, Christoph Legat, Daniel Schütz
    Abstract:

    Modern trends in Manufacturing are defined by mass customization and a changing product portfolio during the life cycle of a Manufacturing system. Consequently, to support flexibility, many research projects focus on promising novel paradigms for production Automation software. During the research project KREAagentuse, guided interviews with industrial experts from machine and plant Automation companies were conducted to assess the potentials and challenges of software agent technology and applications. This chapter comprises the results of these guided interviews and briefly discusses research works related to the requirements resulting from the interviews. These works comprise an approach for enhancing a soft sensor and diagnosis concept for Manufacturing systems, a concept for the model-based development of software agents and soft sensors for Plus, and the automatic model-based synthesis of Manufacturing Automation software and failure compensation strategies.

  • model driven engineering of Manufacturing Automation software projects a sysml based approach
    Mechatronics, 2014
    Co-Authors: Birgit Vogelheuser, Daniel Schütz, Timo Frank, Christoph Legat
    Abstract:

    This paper comprises a SysML-based approach to support the model-driven engineering (MDE) of Manufacturing Automation Software Projects (MASP). The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is adapted to define the SysML-AT (SysML for Automation), a specialized language profile that covers (non-)functional requirements, corresponding software applications and properties of proprietary hardware components. Furthermore, SysML-AT supports an automated software generation for run-time environments conforming to IEC 61131-3. A prototypical tool support was realized for adapted SysML Parametric Diagrams (PD) inside an industrial Automation software development tool. Coupling the model editor and online data from the provided run-time environment enables direct debugging inside the model. The approach was evaluated by several case studies and additional usability experiments. With the latter, the suitability of the MDE approach for future users was proven.

  • mde of Manufacturing Automation software integrating sysml and standard development tools
    International Conference on Industrial Informatics, 2014
    Co-Authors: Daniel Schütz, Christoph Legat, Birgit Vogelheuser
    Abstract:

    In the paper, a SysML-based approach that supports the model-driven engineering (MDE) of Manufacturing Automation software is presented. The approach adapts the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) and defines a specialized language profile, the SysML-AT, to support automated code generation for IEC 61131-3 runtime environments. For adapted SysML Parametric Diagrams (PD), a prototypical tool support was realized inside a commonly used Automation software development environment. Inside the prototypical tool, the linking between the realized PD model editor and online data from the IEC 61131-3 runtime environment enables direct debugging within a SysML-AT model. The concept was evaluated by case studies and by usability experiments, which proved the usability of the SysML-based MDE approach for future users.

  • Development of PLC-Based Software for Increasing the Dependability of Production Automation Systems
    IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 2013
    Co-Authors: Daniel Schütz, Christoph Legat, Andreas Wannagat, Birgit Vogel-heuser
    Abstract:

    This paper presents the elaboration of a concept to develop and implement real-time capable industrial Automation software that increases the dependability of production Automation systems by means of soft sensors. An application example with continuous behavior as it is a typical character treat of process Automation is used to illustrate the initial requirements. Accordingly, the modeling concept is presented which supports application development and which is supplemented by an implementation approach for standard Automation devices, e.g., programmable logic controllers. The paper further comprises an evaluation which adapts the concept for two use cases with discrete behavior (typical character treat of Manufacturing Automation) and validates the initially imposed requirements.

Christoph Legat - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • An Assessment of the Potentials and Challenges in Future Approaches for Automation Software
    Industrial Agents: Emerging Applications of Software Agents in Industry, 2015
    Co-Authors: Birgit Vogel-heuser, Jens Folmer, Christoph Legat, Daniel Schütz
    Abstract:

    Modern trends in Manufacturing are defined by mass customization and a changing product portfolio during the life cycle of a Manufacturing system. Consequently, to support flexibility, many research projects focus on promising novel paradigms for production Automation software. During the research project KREAagentuse, guided interviews with industrial experts from machine and plant Automation companies were conducted to assess the potentials and challenges of software agent technology and applications. This chapter comprises the results of these guided interviews and briefly discusses research works related to the requirements resulting from the interviews. These works comprise an approach for enhancing a soft sensor and diagnosis concept for Manufacturing systems, a concept for the model-based development of software agents and soft sensors for Plus, and the automatic model-based synthesis of Manufacturing Automation software and failure compensation strategies.

  • changeability of Manufacturing Automation systems using an orchestration engine for programmable logic controllers
    IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2015
    Co-Authors: Ulrich T Buhrer, Christoph Legat, Birgit Vogelheuser
    Abstract:

    Abstract To allow companies of the Manufacturing domain to satisfy customer demands and withstand increasing global competition, production Automation processes have to become more efficient, stable and flexible. For this purpose, aspects of changeability and adaptiveness of Automation systems have to be considered. Within this paper, a concept for an Orchestration Engine is proposed, which aims at providing the required degrees of flexibility within the field level control software. This Orchestration Engine is able to flexibly adapt its behavior during operation and is also able to adapt to physical changes of the production environment. For the implementation of this approach, existing concepts and technologies of model-driven engineering are utilized as a starting point for system modelling and automatic code generation, which is realized by model to text transformations. In order to allow application of the proposed concept to existing PLCs, requirements of the predominant IEC 61131-3 standard, such as cyclic execution, are taken into account.

  • model driven engineering of Manufacturing Automation software projects a sysml based approach
    Mechatronics, 2014
    Co-Authors: Birgit Vogelheuser, Daniel Schütz, Timo Frank, Christoph Legat
    Abstract:

    This paper comprises a SysML-based approach to support the model-driven engineering (MDE) of Manufacturing Automation Software Projects (MASP). The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is adapted to define the SysML-AT (SysML for Automation), a specialized language profile that covers (non-)functional requirements, corresponding software applications and properties of proprietary hardware components. Furthermore, SysML-AT supports an automated software generation for run-time environments conforming to IEC 61131-3. A prototypical tool support was realized for adapted SysML Parametric Diagrams (PD) inside an industrial Automation software development tool. Coupling the model editor and online data from the provided run-time environment enables direct debugging inside the model. The approach was evaluated by several case studies and additional usability experiments. With the latter, the suitability of the MDE approach for future users was proven.

  • mde of Manufacturing Automation software integrating sysml and standard development tools
    International Conference on Industrial Informatics, 2014
    Co-Authors: Daniel Schütz, Christoph Legat, Birgit Vogelheuser
    Abstract:

    In the paper, a SysML-based approach that supports the model-driven engineering (MDE) of Manufacturing Automation software is presented. The approach adapts the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) and defines a specialized language profile, the SysML-AT, to support automated code generation for IEC 61131-3 runtime environments. For adapted SysML Parametric Diagrams (PD), a prototypical tool support was realized inside a commonly used Automation software development environment. Inside the prototypical tool, the linking between the realized PD model editor and online data from the IEC 61131-3 runtime environment enables direct debugging within a SysML-AT model. The concept was evaluated by case studies and by usability experiments, which proved the usability of the SysML-based MDE approach for future users.

  • Development of PLC-Based Software for Increasing the Dependability of Production Automation Systems
    IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 2013
    Co-Authors: Daniel Schütz, Christoph Legat, Andreas Wannagat, Birgit Vogel-heuser
    Abstract:

    This paper presents the elaboration of a concept to develop and implement real-time capable industrial Automation software that increases the dependability of production Automation systems by means of soft sensors. An application example with continuous behavior as it is a typical character treat of process Automation is used to illustrate the initial requirements. Accordingly, the modeling concept is presented which supports application development and which is supplemented by an implementation approach for standard Automation devices, e.g., programmable logic controllers. The paper further comprises an evaluation which adapts the concept for two use cases with discrete behavior (typical character treat of Manufacturing Automation) and validates the initially imposed requirements.

Gérard Morel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Historical survey and emerging challenges of Manufacturing Automation modeling and control: A systems architecting perspective
    Annual Reviews in Control, 2019
    Co-Authors: Gérard Morel, Carlos Eduardo Pereira, Shimon Nof
    Abstract:

    An architecting perspective is derived as part of a more global perspective, related to Manufacturing Automation modeling and control through four industrial revolutions. This historical survey (Pereira et al., 2017) highlights the impact of digitalization both on isolated machines and devices, and on the architecting of large-scale Manufacturing and logistics systems. To distribute the holistic control over related components, two main paradigms have been followed for the engineering of those System of Systems (SoS): (1) technology-enhanced, and (2) bio-inspired. In both, the cognitive orchestration of the knowledge and skills involved in a system project remains challenging for the interdisciplinary togetherness and harmony required beyond the disciplinary boundaries. Finally, lessons learned, as well as acquired knowledge through this innovative history are addressed with several open questions and emerging challenges related to the cyber-physical systems evolution.

  • Manufacturing enterprise control and management system engineering paradigms and open issues
    Annual Reviews in Control, 2003
    Co-Authors: Gérard Morel, Hervé Panetto, Marek B Zaremba, Frédérique Mayer
    Abstract:

    Abstract Over several decades, control theory has developed its own set of more or less formal modelling techniques designed to automatically control the dynamic behaviour of complicated Manufacturing systems and processes. The emerging Internet society is addressing new enterprise control and management integration (ECMI) challenges for agile business to Manufacturing (B2M) purposes which enlarge the traditional setting of Automation Engineering to the systems engineering (SE) approach. In order to cope with the increasing complexity of integrating intelligence/information-intensive Manufacturing Automation within the networked Manufacturing enterprise, Automation Engineering should be integrated into the systems engineering approach to achieve a holistic approach that treats in fine the technical operational Manufacturing system emerging from the deployment of an ad hoc combination of formal and informal partial models. This paper emphasises that a Holonic Manufacturing Execution System Engineering ( HMESE ) approach should be a relevant B2M SE approach along with other relevant scientific, industrial and educational areas dealing with information and intelligence control and management issues in agile Automation.

  • Information System Paradigm for Agile Manufacturing Automation
    IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 2001
    Co-Authors: Gérard Morel, Marek Zaremba
    Abstract:

    Automation engineering has developed over several decades its own set of more or less formal modelling techniques that are suited to the traditional setting of industrial Manufacturing. Those methods have been geared toward practical aspects and have not been fully covered by the systems theory approach, which currently deals with formal, information technology-oriented theoretical modelling designed to develop the control of complex dynamic behaviour of Manufacturing systems. In order to address the challenges associated with modern Manufacturing Automation in the era of the information society, the control engineer has to adopt the Systems Engineering approach, understood as a discipline and process for managing the increasing complexity of a real engineering system by treating it as ‘‘more than the sum of its parts‘‘. Integration of these two disciplines, Automation Engineering and Systems Engineering, along with other relevant scientific, industrial and educational areas dealing with information control issues in Manufacturing constitutes a challenge in developing a holistic approach that treats a system as ‘emerging from the interactions between its parts’. Such an approach is essential to support the development of the next generation of intelligent Manufacturing systems.

Shimon Nof - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Historical survey and emerging challenges of Manufacturing Automation modeling and control: A systems architecting perspective
    Annual Reviews in Control, 2019
    Co-Authors: Gérard Morel, Carlos Eduardo Pereira, Shimon Nof
    Abstract:

    An architecting perspective is derived as part of a more global perspective, related to Manufacturing Automation modeling and control through four industrial revolutions. This historical survey (Pereira et al., 2017) highlights the impact of digitalization both on isolated machines and devices, and on the architecting of large-scale Manufacturing and logistics systems. To distribute the holistic control over related components, two main paradigms have been followed for the engineering of those System of Systems (SoS): (1) technology-enhanced, and (2) bio-inspired. In both, the cognitive orchestration of the knowledge and skills involved in a system project remains challenging for the interdisciplinary togetherness and harmony required beyond the disciplinary boundaries. Finally, lessons learned, as well as acquired knowledge through this innovative history are addressed with several open questions and emerging challenges related to the cyber-physical systems evolution.