Modelling and implementing the control of automated production systems using statecharts and PLC programming languages

This paper is concerned with the applicability of statecharts for the discrete control of production systems. We show first how it is possible to build a control model described with the statecharts formalism and taking into account : — The operating modes and the physical structure of the system — The behaviour of different kinds of actuators. Then we present a method enabling one to obtain a PLC program in IEC 61131-3 languages from the statecharts model previously elaborated. An application example illustrates these two points.