Showing papers in "IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics in 2005"
TL;DR: The approach adopted by the Service Infrastructure for Real-Time Embedded Networked Applications project is outlined, as well as the business advantages this approach is expected to provide.
Abstract: This paper outlines opportunities and challenges in the development of next-generation embedded devices, applications, and services, resulting from their increasing intelligence - it plots envisioned future directions for intelligent device networking based on service-oriented high-level protocols, in particular as regards the industrial automation sector - and outlines the approach adopted by the Service Infrastructure for Real-Time Embedded Networked Applications project, as well as the business advantages this approach is expected to provide.
651 citations
TL;DR: This paper proposes an architecture that promotes model integration not only for implementation space artifacts but also in artifacts of the early analysis and design phases of the development process, which promotes reuse and significantly decreases development and validation time.
Abstract: The traditional approach for the development of manufacturing systems considers the constituent parts of the system, i.e., mechanical, electronic, and software, to be developed independently and then integrated to form the final system. This approach is being criticized as inappropriate for the complexity and the dynamics of today's systems. This paper proposes an architecture that promotes model integration not only for implementation space artifacts but also in artifacts of the early analysis and design phases of the development process. The proposed architecture, which promotes reuse and significantly decreases development and validation time, is at the heart of a new paradigm called model-integrated mechatronics (MIM). MIM applies domain-specific modeling languages for the concurrent engineering of mechanical, electronic and software components of mechatronic systems. It simplifies the integrated development process of manufacturing systems by using as basic construct the mechatronic component. The MIM paradigm was utilized to define "Archimedes," a system platform that supports the engineer through a methodology, a framework, and a set of tools to automate the development process of agile mechatronic manufacturing systems.
215 citations
TL;DR: Two queueing models are proposed to simulate the stochastic process of packet delay jitter and loss under DoS attacks and Mitigating measures based on packet filtering are shown to be capable of ameliorating the performance degradation.
Abstract: Replacing specialized industrial networks with the Internet is a growing trend in industrial informatics, where packets are used to transmit feedback and control signals between a plant and a controller. Today, denial of service (DoS) attacks cause significant disruptions to the Internet, which will threaten the operation of network-based control systems (NBCS). In this paper, we propose two queueing models to simulate the stochastic process of packet delay jitter and loss under DoS attacks. The motivation is to quantitatively investigate how these attacks degrade the performance of NBCS. The example control system consists of a proportional integral controller, a second-order plant, and two one-way delay vectors induced by attacks. The simulation results indicate that Model I attack (local network DoS attack) impairs the performance because a large number of NBCS packets are lost. Model II attack (nonlocal network DoS attack) deteriorates the performance or even destabilizes the system. In this case, the traffic for NBCS exhibits strong autocorrelation of delay jitter and packet loss. Mitigating measures based on packet filtering are discussed and shown to be capable of ameliorating the performance degradation.
189 citations
TL;DR: An agent-based framework designed for providing proactive services in domotic environments, and an agent architecture that adopts interoperability techniques that represent an efficient experience for adaptive domotic framework are presented.
Abstract: The evolution of the microprocessor industry, combined with the reduction on cost and increase of efficiency, gives rise to new scenario for ubiquitous computing where humans trigger seamlessly activities and tasks using unusual (often imperceptible) interfaces according to physical space and context. Many problems must be faced: adaptivity, hybrid control strategies, system (hardware) integration, and ubiquitous networking access. In this paper, a solution that attempts to provide a flexible and dependable solution to these complicated problems is illustrated. First, an extensible markup language (XML)-derived technologies is proposed to define fuzzy markup language (FML), a markup language skilled for defining detailed structure of fuzzy control independent from its legacy representation. FML is essentially composed of three layers: 1) XML in order to create a new markup language for fuzzy logic control; 2) document type definition in order to define the legal building blocks; and 3) extensible stylesheet language transformations in order to convert a fuzzy controller description into a specific programming language. Then an agent-based framework designed for providing proactive services in domotic environments, is presented. The agent architecture, exploiting mobile computation, is able to maximize the fuzzy control deployment for the natively FML representation by performing an efficient distribution of pieces of the global control flow over the different computers. Agents are also used to capture user habits, to identify requests, and to apply the artefact-mediated activity through an adaptive fuzzy control strategy. The architecture adopts interoperability techniques that, combined with sophisticated control facilities, represent an efficient experience for adaptive domotic framework.
173 citations
TL;DR: The FTT-Ethernet protocol employs an efficient master/multislave transmission control technique and combines online scheduling with online admission control, to guarantee continued real-time operation under dynamic communication requirements, together with data structures and mechanisms that are tailored to support dynamic QoS management.
Abstract: Ethernet was not originally developed to meet the requirements of real-time industrial automation systems and it was commonly considered unsuited for applications at the field level. Hence, several techniques were developed to make this protocol exhibit real-time behavior, some of them requiring specialized hardware, others providing soft-real-time guarantees only, or others achieving hard real-time guarantees with different levels of bandwidth efficiency. More recently, there has been an effort to support quality-of-service (QoS) negotiation and enforcement but there is not yet an Ethernet-based data link protocol capable of providing dynamic QoS management to further exploit the variable requirements of dynamic applications. This paper presents the FTT-Ethernet protocol, which efficiently supports hard-real-time operation in a flexible way, seamlessly over shared or switched Ethernet. The FTT-Ethernet protocol employs an efficient master/multislave transmission control technique and combines online scheduling with online admission control, to guarantee continued real-time operation under dynamic communication requirements, together with data structures and mechanisms that are tailored to support dynamic QoS management. The paper includes a sample application, aiming at the management of video streams, which highlights the protocol's ability to support dynamic QoS management with real-time guarantees.
167 citations
TL;DR: The goal of the OOONEIDA project is the creation of the technological infrastructure for a new, open knowledge economy for automation components and automated industrial products.
Abstract: Open knowledge economy in intelligent industrial automation (OOONEIDA) is a new initiative for enabling decentralized, reconfigurable industrial control and automation in discrete manufacturing and continuous process systems. The goal of the OOONEIDA project is the creation of the technological infrastructure for a new, open knowledge economy for automation components and automated industrial products. This will be done by further development of the concept of reusable portable software modules (function blocks) and by their application in the time- and cost-effective specification, design, validation, realization, and deployment of intelligent mechatronic components in distributed industrial automation and control systems.
127 citations
TL;DR: This paper proposes a classification system for Petri nets' structuring mechanisms and discusses each one of them, emphasizing the application of the presented mechanisms to specific areas, namely to automation systems modeling, and software engineering, where object-oriented modeling plays a major role.
Abstract: Along Petri nets' history, numerous approaches have been proposed that try to manage model size through the introduction of structuring mechanisms allowing hierarchical representations and model composability. This paper proposes a classification system for Petri nets' structuring mechanisms and discusses each one of them. These include node fusion, node vectors, high-level nets, and object-oriented inspired Petri nets extensions, among others. One running example is used emphasizing the application of the presented mechanisms to specific areas, namely to automation systems modeling, and software engineering, where object-oriented modeling plays a major role.
84 citations
TL;DR: A model-based procedure exploiting analytical redundancy for the detection and isolation of faults of a gas turbine system is presented, based on the generation of so-called "residuals" that are errors between estimated and measured variables of the process.
Abstract: In this study, a model-based procedure exploiting analytical redundancy for the detection and isolation of faults of a gas turbine system is presented. The diagnosis scheme is based on the generation of so-called "residuals" that are errors between estimated and measured variables of the process. The work is completed under both noise-free and noisy conditions. Residual analysis and statistical tests are used for fault detection and isolation, respectively. The final section shows how the actual size of each fault can be estimated using a multilayer perceptron neural network used as a nonlinear function approximator. The proposed fault detection and isolation tool has been tested on a single-shaft industrial gas turbine model.
80 citations
TL;DR: This paper gives a description of the PABADIS project and makes comparisons between the two concepts, showing advantages and disadvantages of both systems.
Abstract: Distributed control systems (DCS) have gained huge interest in the automation business. Several approaches have been made which aim at the design and application of DCS to improve system flexibility and robustness. Important approaches are (among others) the holonic manufacturing systems (HMS) and the plant automation based on distributed systems (PABADIS) approach. PABADIS deals with plant automation systems in a distributed way using generic mobile and stationary agents and plug and participate facilities within a flat structure as key points of the developed control architecture. HMS deals with a similar structure, but aims more at a control hierarchy of special agents. This paper gives a description of the PABADIS project and makes comparisons between the two concepts, showing advantages and disadvantages of both systems. Based on this paper, it will be possible to observe the abilities and drawbacks of distributed agent-based control systems.
73 citations
TL;DR: Familiarity smoothing is presented, a technique to perform adaptive traffic smoothing over Ethernet networks at the Field level thus enabling them to provide a statistical bound on packet delivery time.
Abstract: In modern process control systems, Ethernet is achieving a leading position, proposing itself as a network capable of supporting all communication needs at all levels in the Computer Integrated Manufacturing hierarchy. The main obstacle to using Ethernet at the Field level is the nondeterminism of the Ethernet MAC protocol, which cannot provide real-time traffic with bounded channel access times. This paper focuses on industrial applications featuring soft real-time constraints, such as periodic control or industrial multimedia, which do not require deterministic guarantees on deadline meeting. To cope with this class of applications, Ethernet should be able to guarantee the timely delivery of real-time packets in statistical terms. The paper presents fuzzy traffic smoothing, a technique to perform adaptive traffic smoothing over Ethernet networks at the Field level thus enabling them to provide a statistical bound on packet delivery time. Previous work showed that the fuzzy smoother outperforms other adaptive smoothers proposed in the literature. This paper addresses fuzzy smoother optimization through genetic algorithms. The proposed optimization is applied to tune the inference engine membership functions. The results obtained show the effectiveness of the approach.
71 citations
TL;DR: An intelligent optical sensor for real time defect detection in gas metal arc welding processes that outperforms a former version of the detection algorithm based on a statistical approach.
Abstract: This paper describes an intelligent optical sensor for real time defect detection in gas metal arc welding processes. The sensor measures the radiations emitted by the plasma surrounding the welding arc, and analyzes the information in real time to determine an index of local quality of the weld. The data processing algorithm encompasses a Kalman filter to reduce the heavy amount of noise affecting the measured signals, and an intelligent fuzzy system to assess the degree of acceptability of the weld. The fuzzy system is also able to detect the risk of specific problems (e.g., anomalies in the current, voltage or speed of the arc, contamination with other materials, holes) and the position of defects along the welding line. In an extensive experimental comparison, the fuzzy system outperforms a former version of the detection algorithm based on a statistical approach.
TL;DR: By adopting policy-based network security technologies and XML processing technologies, two new modules of Secure Device Control Gateway and Security Agent are introduced into regular distributed device control networks to provide security and safety enhancing mechanisms.
Abstract: In today's globalized business world, outsourcing, joint ventures, mobile and cross-border collaborations have led to work environments distributed across multiple organizational and geographical boundaries. The new requirements of portability, configurability and interoperability of distributed device networks put forward new challenges and security risks to the system's design and implementation. There are critical demands on highly secured collaborative control environments and security enhancing mechanisms for distributed device control, configuration, monitoring, and interoperation. This paper addresses the collaborative control issues of distributed device networks under open and dynamic environments. The security challenges of authenticity, integrity, confidentiality, and execution safety are considered as primary design constraints. By adopting policy-based network security technologies and XML processing technologies, two new modules of Secure Device Control Gateway and Security Agent are introduced into regular distributed device control networks to provide security and safety enhancing mechanisms. The core architectures, applied mechanisms, and implementation considerations are presented in detail in this paper.
TL;DR: This paper investigates the concept of share-driven scheduling of networks using servers with real-time properties by applying it to the popular controller area network (CAN) and proposes a scheduling mechanism that is called simple server-scheduled CAN (S/sup 3/-CAN), for which an associated timing analysis is presented.
Abstract: This paper investigates the concept of share-driven scheduling of networks using servers with real-time properties. Share-driven scheduling provides fairness and bandwidth isolation between predictable as well as unpredictable streams of messages on the network. The need for this kind of scheduled real-time communication network is high in applications that have requirements on flexibility, both during development for assigning communication bandwidth to different applications, and during run-time to facilitate dynamic addition and removal of system components. We illustrate the share-driven scheduling concept by applying it to the popular controller area network (CAN). We propose a scheduling mechanism that we call simple server-scheduled CAN (S/sup 3/-CAN), for which we also present an associated timing analysis. Additionally, we present a variant of S/sup 3/-CAN called periodic server-scheduled CAN (PS/sup 2/-CAN), which for some network configurations gives lower worst-case response-times than S/sup 3/-CAN. Also for this improvement, a timing analysis is presented. Moreover, we use simulation to evaluate the timing performance of both S/sup 3/-CAN and PS/sup 2/-CAN, comparing them with other scheduling mechanisms.
TL;DR: In this article, three modifications to an ARQ protocol are investigated and the relative benefits of using FEC versus adding antennas versus sending multiple copies of the same packet under different error conditions are investigated, and it is shown that for independent Gilbert-Elliot channels between the base station antennas and the wireless station the antenna redundancy scheme effectively decreases the probability of missing a deadline.
Abstract: Wireless LANs are an attractive networking technology for industrial applications. A major obstacle toward the fulfillment of hard real-time requirements is the error-prone behavior of wireless channels. A common approach to increase the probability of a message being transmitted successfully before a prescribed deadline is to use feedback from the receiver and subsequent retransmissions (automatic repeat request-ARQ-protocols). In this paper, three modifications to an ARQ protocol are investigated. As one of these modifications a specific transmit diversity scheme, called antenna redundancy, is introduced. The other modifications are error-correcting codes and the transmission of multiple copies of the same packet. In antenna redundancy the base station/access point has several antennas. The base station transmits on one antenna at a time, but whenever a retransmission is needed, the base station switches to another antenna. The relative benefits of using FEC versus adding antennas versus sending multiple copies are investigated under different error conditions. One important result is that for independent Gilbert-Elliot channels between the base station antennas and the wireless station the antenna redundancy scheme effectively decreases the probability of missing a deadline, in a numerical example approximately an order of magnitude per additional antenna can be observed. As a second benefit, antenna redundancy decreases the number of transmission trials needed to transmit a message successfully, thus saving bandwidth.
TL;DR: An algorithm for selection of target rotation time using a genetic algorithm to ensure QoS of control information is presented here and the performance of the QoS-based remote control scheme under conditions of controlled network delay is discussed.
Abstract: This paper focuses on a quality-of-service (QoS)-based remote control scheme for networked control systems via the Profibus token passing protocol. Typically, token passing experiences random network delay due to uncertainties in token circulation, but the protocol has in-built upper and lower bounds of network delay. Thus, to ensure the control performance of networked control systems via the Profibus token passing protocol, the network delay should be maintained below the allowable delay level. As the network delay is affected by protocol parameters, such as target rotation time, we present here an algorithm for selection of target rotation time using a genetic algorithm to ensure QoS of control information. We also discuss the performance of the QoS-based remote control scheme under conditions of controlled network delay. To evaluate its feasibility, a networked control system for a feedback control system using a servo motor was implemented on a Profibus-FMS network.
TL;DR: An attempt is made at defining real-time operation for this application field, at reviewing the standardization work done to unify the electrical drive interfaces, and at encompassing the recently accepted solutions, including those based on the industrial Ethernet.
Abstract: The paper gives an overview of the communication architectures adopted in the industrial automation for the electrical drives, ensuring a fast data exchange and high performance control. An attempt is made at defining real-time operation for this application field, at reviewing the standardization work done to unify the electrical drive interfaces, and at encompassing the recently accepted solutions, including those based on the industrial Ethernet.
TL;DR: This work proposes a holonic model for the domain of supply chain management based on the holonic enterprise model with the Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA) Contract Net protocols applied within different levels of the supply chain holarchy.
Abstract: As an exercise in agent-based software engineering, this work proposes a holonic model for the domain of supply chain management. The supply chain system is a distributed infrastructure that enforces protocol rules and through which agents registered on a domain find each other, access the knowledge base, communicate (exchange messages), and negotiate with other agents, which are independent entities with specific goals and resources. It is considered that individual resources that belong to each agent are not sufficient to satisfy their goals; therefore, the agents must procure the needed resources from other agents present in the system through negotiation. Our approach is based on the holonic enterprise model with the Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents (FIPA) Contract Net protocols applied within different levels of the supply chain holarchy. To accommodate differentiation of interests and provide an allocation of resources throughout the supply chain holarchy, we use nested protocols as interaction mechanisms among agents. Agents are interacting through a price system embedded into specific protocols. The negotiation on prices is made possible by the implementation of an XML rule-based system that is also flexible in terms of configuration and can provide portable data across networks.
TL;DR: This paper deals with modeling, dynamic description, and control of discrete event systems (DES) for production systems and machines control logic design, and enables closed-loop modeling of DES, important for simulation of the systems and analysis of their performance before the target system is actually built.
Abstract: This paper deals with modeling, dynamic description, and control of discrete event systems (DES) for production systems and machines control logic design. The control logic of such systems is considered as DES, which is then modeled by a matrix representation of Petri net graph. The dynamics of a DES is described by a well known algebraic Petri net next-state equation and a novel logical firing event selecting equation. The control of the DES dynamics is introduced by logical signals, which represent conditions for occurrence of events. Such a presentation enables closed-loop modeling of DES, which is important for simulation of the systems and analysis of their performance before the target system is actually built. The proposed method is illustrated with a cutting machine application. Using the proposed method, the correct functionality as well as faults response can be simulated with Matlab/Simulink.
TL;DR: This paper presents the generic model of intelligent instruments and specifies it for intelligent sensors, from a functional point of view, i.e., from the point of views of the services they offer to the system designer.
Abstract: This paper presents the generic model of intelligent instruments and specifies it for intelligent sensors, from a functional point of view, i.e., from the point of view of the services they offer to the system designer. Basic services are concerned with data estimation and data characterization, both based on local transducers and on the availability of remote signals. Advanced services are concerned with data validation, through fault detection and isolation procedures, and with fault tolerance, by means of accommodation and reconfiguration strategies. Finally, the integration of intelligent sensors in distributed control systems is discussed.
TL;DR: This paper deals with the concept of an extended logistics enterprise and explores the software engineering issues underlying the development of such complex systems.
Abstract: Transportation and warehousing logistics are activities that require strong information systems and computer support. This requirement has grown with the advent of e-commerce. Companies such as FedEx and UPS now allow their customers to track and monitor the fulfillment of their requested services on the Internet. In order for such a system to be effective, the goods need to be handled by the one corporation, with an integrated system. This is rare in the case of small to medium sized enterprise (SME). With the advent of business to business (B2B), and partner to partner (P2P) e-commerce, there has been an increasing tendency for SMEs to set up consortia that represent several players in a given field in order to contend with larger competitors. This paper deals with the concept of an extended logistics enterprise and explores the software engineering issues underlying the development of such complex systems.
TL;DR: The state space of CNet components is analyzed and a novel event-discrete "handler-based" execution model that implicitly models an automaton is introduced.
Abstract: A component based modeling language with the component interfaces derived from the elements of the Petri net theory called CNet is presented in this paper. In contrast to IEC 61499 function blocks that define the flow of events and data separately, CNet models them combined as colored tokens. The event-discrete behavior of CNet components is described by a special class of colored Petri nets with timed arcs and sharpened semantics in order to allow automatic generation of possibly concurrent Java code. In this paper, the state space of CNet components is analyzed and a novel event-discrete "handler-based" execution model that implicitly models an automaton is introduced.
TL;DR: The aim of the paper is to propose a procedure for dynamic assignment of priorities to variables to be transmitted, in such a way the relevant real-time requirements are fulfilled.
Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of information flow scheduling in a communication system based on CAN ISO IS-11898 physical medium access mechanism. It mainly features a bus access arbitration protocol based on a priority assigned to each message to be transmitted; if two or more messages are transmitted at the same time by different communication nodes, only the message with the highest priority continues to be transmitted, the other being stopped. In real-time applications, messages are relevant to process variables which must be transmitted within strict time constraints; according to the CAN ISO IS-11898 bus arbitration protocol, respect of real-time constraints depends on the priority assigned to each variable. The aim of the paper is to propose a procedure for dynamic assignment of priorities to variables to be transmitted, in such a way the relevant real-time requirements are fulfilled. Although many other approaches can be found in literature, the proposal is original as it is based on standard full CAN communication stacks.
TL;DR: The IEEE Industrial Electronics Society has completed 2003 with the highest net financial gain among all IEEE Societies and it seems that it will keep its leading position also in 2005.
Abstract: THE IEEE Industrial Electronics Society is one of the oldest societies in IEEE. Three years ago we celebrated our 50th Anniversary. As a Society, we introduced microprocessors into industrial practice. Later, we expanded our interest into mechatronics and robotics. We created The IEEE/ASME TRANSACTIONS ON MECHATRONICS and we were actively involved in the creation of Neural Networks Council, which recently was converted into the Computational Intelligence Society. A large group of our volunteers are focusing on software written for industrial computer systems. It was sometimes difficult to convince this group of software engineers to publish their papers in our TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS. Therefore, we had to provide a journal with a more adequate title for software engineers. Even though we are not the largest IEEE society, we have completed 2003 with the highest net financial gain among all IEEE Societies and it seems that we will keep our leading position also in 2005. Having financial resources we decided to expand our activity and create the new journal, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL INFORMATICS. This was an effort of many IES volunteers and finally our journal was approved in June 2004. Now, I have the great pleasure to present to you this first issue.
TL;DR: A thorough investigation of all major nonlinear effects leads to an accurate system-level model of the sensor which is used to design a robust and reliable fully integrated sensor system capable of handling signal offset and amplitude variations.
Abstract: This paper presents a smart capacitive angle sensor suited for automotive and industrial use. To comply with tough constraints of such applications in terms of environmental conditions, unit costs, and physical size, a fully integrated solution is mandatory. However, the limitations and capabilities of a single mixed-signal integrated circuit have considerable impact not only on the hardware architecture of the digital and analog system components, but also on the feasible measurement algorithm. A thorough investigation of all major nonlinear effects leads to an accurate system-level model of the sensor which is used to design a robust and reliable fully integrated sensor system capable of handling signal offset and amplitude variations. In addition, the proposed system recognizes and reacts on electromagnetic disturbances. Measurements taken from a final prototype comply with the simulation results.
TL;DR: In the new millenium, it is very difficult to put clear boundaries between industrial sectors, between products and services, between producers and users, between IT, communications, media, consumer electronics and even between IT and non-IT industries.
Abstract: F WE HAD a look at the industrial developments that took place in the 20th century, the first half could be said to be hardware dominated in the sense that the improvements in productivity and product quality were mostly due to improvements in “the hardware.” The operational speed and the accuracy of the industrial machinery steadily increased, mostly due to the improvements in the precision of the mechanical parts. Along the same lines, the early second half could be said to be software dominated. It was the software used in microprocessor based control systems that enabled a production line to operate faster and more accurately. Even the improvements in industrial machinery (the hardware) were due to the possibilities offered by Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing. The era of industrial electronics got started around this period, industrial automation in the form of mechanical controls and switches, slowly giving way to electronic controls and signal processing. The last few decades of the century, on the other hand, are characterized by the fusion of different technologies, the first example of which may be (going back almost to the start of the century) electromechanics, then optoelectronics, then mechatronics, then telematics, then bioinformatics, and so on. As a result of this, the boundaries between industrial sectors and academic disciplines have eroded very rapidly. In the new millenium, it is very difficult to put clear boundaries between industrial sectors, between products and services, between producers and users, between IT, communications, media, consumer electronics and even between IT and non-IT industries. The area of industrial automation and control has had its share of the changes too. It is easy to see how dominant IT has become in industrial
TL;DR: This paper presents some theoretical and experimental results concerning the introduction of advanced sensors in the design and development of a new generation of presses for plastic material injection used to produce washing machine tubs.
Abstract: This paper presents some theoretical and experimental results concerning the introduction of advanced sensors in the design and development of a new generation of presses for plastic material injection used to produce washing machine tubs. The architecture of the control system for the presses is based on a distributed solution and relies on fieldbus communications to obtain a graceful migration path to the adoption of sensors of a new generation. This enables a dramatic decrease in both the cabling complexity and cost, together with a significant improvement in the performance of the whole machine. The adoption of the field network to connect sensors and actuators to the controller has been carefully evaluated by means of a preliminary theoretical analysis. Then, two test systems have been implemented to collect data and performance figures by carrying out experiments and measures on some of the real devices selected for the design of press control equipment.