New control system aspects for physical experiments

Abstract

New control system aspects are introduced for the design of slow control systems for physical experiments. Mainly, they are based on a comprehensive usage of XML technologies. A second paradigm for future control systems is the consequent usage of the model-view-controller (MVC) pattern. Main aspect of all (hardware and software) system components is the use throughout of standards for interfaces, protocols and architecture. In particular, the software is based on the unifying XML specifications XSchema, XPath, XQuery, XLink, and OPC XML. A first application of these technologies is the KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino (KATRIN) Slow Control System (KSC) of a neutrino experiment at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe. Main characteristic of KSC is its homogeneous structure with its code being spread over several subsystems. Implications of this distributed method are system stability, independence of subsystems and fast and comfortable maintenance.