Component-Based Method for the Modeling and Control of Modular Production Systems

Control software systems for manufacturing plants reveal common system architectural elements. This suggests taking advantage of a development paradigm based on reusable components. Creating and upgrading a repository of reusable components suitable for many systems that share common characteristics present a challenge for engineers, especially if composition mechanisms must be founded on control theories of discrete event systems and if formal synthesis tools must be integrated into well-accepted component-based software development processes. This paper explores a component model and a pragmatic method for the development of control software systems. The method, along with the underlying component model, fills the gap between a hierarchical control theory and component-based software engineering. A detailed case study developed around a Festo didactic learning modular production system demonstrates the relevance of the proposed approach to industrial application.