Evolution of software in automated production systems: Challenges and research directions

Abstract

a b s t r a c tCoping with evolution in automated production systems implies a cross-disciplinary challenge along the system's life-cycle for variant-rich systems of high complexity. The authors from computer science and automation provide an interdisciplinary survey on challenges and state of the art in evolution of automated production systems. Selected challenges are illustrated on the case of a simple pick and place unit. In the first part of the paper, we discuss the development process of automated production systems as well as the different type of evolutions during the system's life-cycle on the case of a pick and place unit. In the second part, we survey the challenges associated with evolution in the different development phases and a couple of cross-cutting areas and review existing approaches addressing the challenges. We close with summarizing future research directions to address the challenges of evolution in automated production systems.

Fault Handling in PLC-Based Industry 4.0 Automated Production Systems as a Basis for Restart and Self-Configuration and Its Evaluation

“…Especially in plant manufacturing different platforms, i.e. PLC types need to be supported due to worldwide customers' requirements and as Vogel-Heuser et al [3] already discussed on-site changes even by less qualified customer staff are mandatory to reduce downtime (row maintenance staff), which mostly leads to the usage of very simple programming languages, i.e. IL and LD.…”

Analyzing the industrial scalability of backwards compatible intralogistics systems

“…a pallet-or tote-conveying system, has to be custom-built as a result of the dimensions of the system requiring high flexibility. Moreover, the different lifespans of mechanical, electrical and software components and their lacking availability because of shorter life cycles often require electrical devices to be replaced by other ones during operation [3].…”

“…mechanical, electrical/electronic and software engineering, are involved in the development of IntraS's [3]. Not only the development of a new IntraS but also the modification of an existing one, e.g.…”

Towards the co-evolution of industrial products and its production systems by combining models from development and hardware/software deployment in cyber-physical systems

“…Whereas automated production systems (aPS) represent big investments and therefore have to be operated for several decades, industrial products are evolving much faster and innovations or changing customer requirements may occur even on a daily basis [1]. In order to cope with this divergence, aPS need to be flexible and able to co-evolve with innovations or changes of the products they produce [2]. On the other hand, "aPS are comprised of mechanical parts, electrical and electronic parts (automation hardware) and software, all closely interwoven.…”

“…On the other hand, "aPS are comprised of mechanical parts, electrical and electronic parts (automation hardware) and software, all closely interwoven. They represent a special class of mechatronic systems and consist of mechatronic sub-systems like sensors and actuators" [2]. Consequently, it is also necessary that aPS co-evolve by changes of its parts and sub-systems.…”