Transformation from System Design Models in SysML to Executable IEC 61499 Function Block Models

Designing automation systems requires a joint effort from different domains including the control software and controlled plants. System design is the foundation of the discipline-specific design processes and hence its verification is critical to the success of the whole project. Transforming system design models to simulation models is a common method for system verification. IEC 61499 Function Block (FB) is a feasible target simulation modeling language because of its executable specification nature. However, existing approaches can only generate initial control design from SysML models, which means the generated FB models are not executable. In this study, an approach to transform SysML design models into executable FB models is proposed. First, the execution semantics of hybrid automaton (HA) and execution control chart (ECC), which are the behavior modeling formalisms of SysML and IEC 61499, respectively is analyzed. Then, their semantic similarities and differences are identified. Finally, transformation rules to tackle the semantic differences are proposed so that the missing execution details of FB models can be automatically generated. A CNC bending machine is used as a case study to illustrate the proposed approach.