Automation Systems

Automation systems for industrial plants are complex, comprehensive and long-living hardware-/software systems whose features are shaped by the processes controlled in the industrial plant. Examples for industrial plants are production lines, process plants and power plants. Software structures in present industrial automation systems grew historically and are shaped by static, hierarchic structures, which have clearly divided tasks, as well as by automation and information structures (the so called automation pyramid). Software concepts which are used to develop automation systems at present are predominantly based on norm IEC 1131-3 and are strongly hardware and implementation oriented. Examples are SFC (Sequential Function Chart), FBD (Function Block Diagram) and CFC (Continuous Function Charts). These concepts, which are close to the hardware, have been used successfully since two decades.

Current automation systems face new challenges. More efficient and cost-saving hardware components are available, for instance in form of field devices. This leads to increasing decentralization within the automation system and a functionality distribution in field devices. Increasing communication of single system units in the automation system is a result of this, as well as an increasing complexity in engineering the automation system.

Engineering comprises all challenges and activities needed to plan, built, commission, operate and maintain technical plants.

A dynamic development of hardware components is contrasting the long life cycle of automation systems (10-30 years). That is why automation systems are in need of permanent partial changes: Software components are optimized or adapted to changes in hardware structure or processes.

In order to achieve a better support of the engineering of automation systems, new services and functionalities have to be integrated into automation systems. Illustration 1 shows the task assignment of man and automation system needed in future. Some engineering functions are illustrated here. By integrating engineering functions in the automation system, the engineer is supported in engineering challenges ‑ his field of activity shifts to more abstract challenges.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-11