Stefan Matzler

Virtual industrial Ethernet devices for testing purposes

In this article an approach towards a modular generic field device, running on standard PC-hardware is presented. The work focusses on generating large numbers of software devices to be employed in stress test scenarios. The concept is based upon open source operating systems and virtualization. The design decisions regarding platform and device structure are discussed in detail. Furthermore a forecast on future real time capabilities of the approach is presented.

Semantically enriched device profiles

The functionality of intelligent field devices is steadily increasing. In order to access this functionality in automation systems, device profiles and device descriptions have been developed. Addressing flexibility, as demanded by activities like Industrie 4.0, requires automatic mapping of a function-related application design to a heterogeneous system of networked resources. This needs additional information in device descriptions. Based on an evaluation example, the paper discusses a semantic annotation of device profiles using list of properties and their representation in semantic technologies.

An OPC UA information model for cross-domain vertical integration in automation systems

Bridging the two domains of building and industrial automation systems at their management levels is a topic hardly regarded so far. Nevertheless, cross-domain integration promises significant benefits in terms of resource consumption and costs optimisation where systems of both worlds encounter each other. To this aim, this work presents an OPC UA information modelling framework providing a holistic information base for both domains. This facilitates the implementation of cross-domain management applications in the context of smart grids with the potential goals to coordinate the reuse of waste energy, to avoid peak loads and to predict energy demand.

An OPC UA cross-domain information model for energy management in automation systems

Interoperability between different technologies in the industrial and building domains of automation has already become a significant research topic. Extending this thought towards cross-domain interoperability, synergy effects arise from the resulting unified view to process data of both domains. This facilitates savings of energy, working time and materials. In this work a cross-domain information model aiming at this goal is proposed.

Toolchain for semantically enriched device development of flexible profile conform field devices

Field devices are offering more and more functionality to automation systems. This leads to a complexity increase of such devices, and to a rise in engineering effort. Additionally, the demand for semantic annotations of many device information is growing. Nowadays, profiles provide a solid base for device functions and structure. However, the current way of realizing a profile-based device is far away from becoming a reality due to the demand for reducing expenses in device manufacturing. The paper presents a toolchain approach for a profile based and semantically enriched field device development. The application function of such devices is generated from several device profile specifications. The semantic information form the device profile is annotated to the generated functional elements and to the device descriptions that have to be delivered with a field device.

Rapid Prototyping von applikationsprofilkonformen Feldgeräten

Zusammenfassung Die funktionale Komplexität von Feldgeräten steigt stetig. Daraus resultieren steigende Aufwendungen für deren Entwicklung, Implementierung und Test. Das Konzept des Rapid Prototyping wurde entwickelt, um die Effizienz solcher Entwicklungsprozesse zu steigern. Der Beitrag beschreibt eine Lösung, die durch Softwareprototypen und Virtualisierung das Rapid Prototyping von Feldgeräten und von Systemapplikationen realisiert. Dabei wird ein besonderer Schwerpunkt auf die Unterstützung der Geräteentwicklung auf Basis von Applikationsprofilen gelegt und an einem Beispiel für PROFINET IO erläutert. Abstract Functional complexity of field devices is increasing constantly. Therefore, the expenses for development, implementation and test of devices are growing. The concept of Rapid Prototyping has been developed to enhance development processes. This article describes an approach to rapidly realize a large number of field device prototypes or system application prototypes by the means of software prototypes and virtualization.The support for the device development based on application profiles is emphasized.The methodologies are illustrated using an example implementing a PROFINET IO application profile.

Analyse einer Software-basierten Lösung zur Verbesserung der Zuverlässigkeit von Drahtlosen Vernetzten Steuerungssystemen

Die Kombination aus Flexibilitat und Zuverlassigkeit gewinnt in vielen industriellen Anwendungen zunehmend an Bedeutung. Die geforderte zunehmende Flexibilitat wird mit dem Trend der Integration von IT-Systemen in Produktionssysteme begegnet. Diese Verwendung von IT-Systemen reicht dabei von normalen Buro-PCs in der Fertigung bis hin zu Netzwerktechnologien, die seit Jahren im BuroUmfeld bekannt sind. Gerade diese Netzwerktechnologien erfullen jedoch nicht immer die harten Anforderungen, wie sie von Regelungsprozessen gefordert werden. Der folgende Beitrag fuhrt kurz in das Thema modellbasierte Steuerung ein und fasst pragnant die wichtigsten Eckpunkte der Implementierung einer modellbasierten Steuerung zusammen. Als Kern werden die Ergebnisse der Analyse des Ansatzes dargestellt. Weiterhin wird eine Metrik zur Charakterisierung von Regelstrecken aufgezeigt, fur die die dargestellte Implementierung verwendet werden kann. Dabei wird auf konkrete Anforderungen und Einschrankungen an das gesamte System eingegangen. Den Abschluss bildet die Diskussion einer Kostenfunktion zur Unterstutzung der Engineering-Prozesse.

Reliable software-based control as enabler for flexible production systems

Abstract The current evolution of the industrial production systems to cyber physical production systems requires an increased flexibility of the system structure that is nowadays still difficult to find in the industrial systems. The control applications are extremely strict by requiting jitter-free communication of sensor and control values in networked control systems. The software-based control approach presented here enhances the reliability of the control system using a control value matrix as information source. This approach benefits of predictive control algorithms that rely on model-based strategies.

Reliable wireless control: Wireless connection in the control loop

Wireless communication technologies are adopted more and more in industrial applications. While being accepted as an add-on focusing on tasks like asset management, the use of wireless connection in the control loop is still less common. A main requirement for such an application is a reliable communication solution. The paper discusses a system approach of integrating wireless communication systems into a control application by using a model predictive control and an intelligent radio proxy in order to minimize the issues derived from a wireless connection, like packet loss and jitter. The engineering of such a solution is supported by a specific PLC function block.

The generic device on ARM based hardware — An analysis on cycle time limits

Flexibility is a key requirement in automation. This requires flexible solutions for design and implementation of field devices. The easy implementation of device functions for an early test in a system can be performed by introducing generalized approaches. The Generic Device, based on standard IT hard- and software, is an approach addressing this flexibility. The availability of low-price controller boards with Ethernet connection and general purpose I/O connectors, e.g. ARM based systems like Raspberry Pi, supports this idea. The paper analyses and discusses several alternatives for implementation of a Generic Device based on different hardware solutions. An analysis of cycle times and a comparison with dedicated industrial IO devices has been performed and the results are discussed. Topics for further work are discussed.