Towards an implementation model for FB-based reconfigurable distributed control applications

Abstract

The function block (FB) has been defined by the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) as the basic construct for the development of reusable, interoperable, distributed control applications. Complete applications can be defined in the design level as networks of interconnected FBs. For these design models to be automatically converted to implementation ones, adopting the model integrated computing paradigm, an appropriate implementation meta-model should be defined We describe two alternatives for the implementation of FB design models. The first one adopts the straightforward transformation of the FB design model to a high level language (C+ +, Java) implementation model. The second approach utilizes UML-RT models as an intermediate representation towards the final implementation model. Both approaches support the dynamic re-configuration of the control application and exploit our extensions to the IEC execution control chart notation, to improve the expressiveness of the design model and the efficiency of the implementation one