COTS-Based Architectural Framework for Reliable Real-Time Control Applications in Manufacturing

Abstract

The challenge of keeping the development and implementation of real-time control systems reliable and efficient and at the same time, low-cost and low-energy, is getting harder. This is because system designers and developers are faced with the dependability, inflexibility and often high-cost of specialized or custom-built hardware and software components. This research attempts to tackle issues such as the reliability and efficiency of real-time control systems and advance further the current state-of-the-art. For this purpose, a strong emphasis is placed on finding novel efficient solutions based on standardized and commercially available off-the-shelf hardware/software components. In this direction, this research applies credible and feasible methodologies (e.g., model-based design, component-based design, formal verification, real-time scheduling, prototyping, and validation) in an innovative enhanced way. As an important outcome, a versatile integrative design approach and architectural framework (VIDAF) is proposed, which supports the development and implementation of reliable real-time control systems and applications using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The feasibility and applicability of the proposed system’s architecture are evaluated and validated through a system application in embedded real-time control in manufacturing. The research outcomes are expected to have a positive impact on emerging areas such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

COTS-Based Real-Time System Development: An Effective Application in Pump Motor Control

“…This prototype represents an added value towards the goal of using COTS components in real-time control applications. The initial findings of this research are very promising and support the concepts and results presented in Reference [32]. The research outcomes are expected to be worthy and have a positive impact on emerging areas, such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and embedded control systems based on COTS components.…”

“…The wide range of applications requires a more general open framework to integrate COTS hardware and software components and tools from different engineering fields so they can work together efficiently. The design methodology of our COTS-based real-time control system follows a versatile integrative design approach and architectural framework (VIDAF) [32], which supports the development and implementation of reliable real-time control systems and applications using commercial off-the-shelf components. The design process utilizes real-time techniques and open-source components that support the development of COTS-based real-time control applications.…”

“…Therefore, it is preferable to assign and execute tasks only in individual COTS nodes. It is proved that such application infrastructure improves the determinism of a real-time task and keeps the overall system response time within specific real-time bounds [32].…”

“…Definition of a novel application control infrastructure based on an open system architectural framework (VIDAF [32]) that uses COTS components in building reliable and cost-efficient control systems.…”

Design and implementation of a microcontroller training kit for blend learning

“…From the beginning of the 1970s to today, microcontrollers and microcomputers have evolved very quickly. Nowadays, most embedded systems created based on microcontrollers are used in many applications including industrial [5,21], consumer [33], commercial [3], automotive [13], medical [12,18], home appliances [17,31], telecommunications [2], spacecraft [14], military applications [8,15], and so forth. The total-global microcontrollers market was estimated to be USD 86.5 billion in 2020 and predicted to reach USD 116.2 billion by 2025 [4].…”