Increasing Adaptability of Automation Control Software for Automated Material Flow Systems via Software Modularization

Shorter innovation cycles along with the demand for individualized, high-quality products pose high challenges on today's automated material flow systems. These systems, suitable for producing bulk goods, but inflexible in case of product changes, need to react flexibly to unplanned configurations. Especially in the software domain retroactive adaptations are tedious work and prone to errors. By deploying object-oriented programming methods in IEC 61131-3, the modularity already existing in the hardware domain of automated material flow systems could be transferred into the software domain. To meet the demands of automated material flow systems, the modular software remains centralized and executable on programmable logic controllers. In this paper a concept is introduced which facilitates the retroactive addition or removal of sensors or actuators in automated material flow systems based on object-oriented programming methods.     «

Shorter innovation cycles along with the demand for individualized, high-quality products pose high challenges on today's automated material flow systems. These systems, suitable for producing bulk goods, but inflexible in case of product changes, need to react flexibly to unplanned configurations. Especially in the software domain retroactive adaptations are tedious work and prone to errors. By deploying object-oriented programming methods in IEC 61131-3, the modularity already existing in the...     »