Model-driven Engineering of Manufacturing Automation Software Projects -- A SysML-based Approach

TL;DR

This paper presents a SysML-based model-driven engineering approach for manufacturing automation software, enabling automated code generation and integrated debugging, validated through case studies and usability tests.

Contribution

It introduces SysML-AT, a specialized profile for automation, and a prototype tool that supports automated software generation and debugging in industrial environments.

Findings

Successful case studies demonstrating applicability

Effective automated code generation for IEC 61131-3

Positive usability feedback from industry practitioners

Abstract

This paper comprises a SysML-based approach to support the model-driven engineering (MDE) of Manufacturing Automation Software Projects (MASP). The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is adapted to define the SysML-AT (SysML for automation), a specialized language profile that covers (non-)functional requirements, corresponding software applications and properties of proprietary hardware components. Furthermore, SysML-AT supports an automated software generation for run-time environments conforming to IEC 61131-3. A prototypical tool support was realized for adapted SysML Parametric Diagrams (PD) inside an industrial automation software development tool. Coupling the model editor and online data from the provided run-time environment enables direct debugging inside the model. The approach was evaluated by several case studies and additional usability experiments. With the latter, the suitability of the MDE approach for future users was proven.