Improving automation software dependability: A role for formal methods?

Johnson, T.L.

doi:10.1016/j.conengprac.2006.07.005

Cited by 41 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The proposed combined approach exploits the advantages of both frameworks. Compared to other model-based verification approaches that are described in the literature (e.g., [3,6,17], see also survey papers [4,7], and the references therein), the main advantage of the combined approach is that it eliminates the need for an additional plant model for the purpose of verifying the sequential controller. The corresponding model is derived automatically during the interlock design stage.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An admissible-behaviour-based analysis of the deadlock in Petri-net controllers

Mušič

Matko

2008

Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory

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This paper addresses the problem of verifying the discrete control logic that is typically implemented by programmable controllers. Not only are the logical properties of the controller studied during verification, the behaviour of the overall controlled system is also examined. An approach that combines the calculation of the safety-oriented interlock controllers in terms of supervisory control theory (SCT), the corresponding calculation of the admissible behaviour of the system, and the specification of the desired system operation by Petri nets is proposed. A potential deadlock in the controlled system is then verified by taking the admissible-behaviour model as a process model. The analysis of the simultaneously operated supervisorycontrol-based interlock controller and the Petri-net-based sequential controller is performed with a C-reachability graph. The paper focuses on the calculation of the graph, and the approach is illustrated with an example of a simple manufacturing cell.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Verification-based approaches deal with the formalization of the specifications and verification of the program against the formal specification [7]. The program passes the verification when the behaviour specified by the designer satisfies a set of properties.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An admissible-behaviour-based analysis of the deadlock in Petri-net controllers

Mušič

Matko

2008

Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory

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“…Most of these methods consider the static individual PLC program that is isolated from its operating environment and verify some functional properties based on traversing the transferred model. The existent deterministic analysis of PLC programs are valuable, but the uncertain errors caused by noise, environment, or hardware should not be neglected [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domain-Driven Probabilistic Analysis of Programmable Logic Controllers

Zhang

Jiang

Hung

et al. 2011

Formal Methods and Software Engineering

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Abstract. Programmable Logic Controllers are widely used in industry. Reliable PLCs are vital to many critical applications. This paper presents a novel symbolic approach for analysis of PLC systems. The main components of the approach consists of: (1) calculating the uncertainty characterization of the PLC systems, (2) abstracting the PLC system as a Hidden Markov Model, (3) solving the Hidden Markov Model using domain knowledge, (4) integrating the solved Hidden Markov Model and the uncertainty characterization to form an integrated (regular) Markov Model, and (5) harnessing probabilistic model checking to analyze properties on the resultant Markov Model. The framework provides expected performance measures of the PLC systems by automated analytical means without expensive simulations. Case studies on an industrial automated system are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.

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“…Several steps can be performed in order to obtain a dependable controller: first, the use of methodologies for obtaining the structure of the controller's specification [1]; second, the use of a formalism to describe, formally, the intended behavior for the controller [2]; third, the use of analysis techniques, in order to guarantee the dependability of the specification [3]; and, fourth, the translation of the specification into a controller program and respective implementation on a physical controller [4]. Concerning use of analysis techniques, plant modeling is one of the bigger issues when performing simulation and formal verification tasks for obtaining dependable software for mechatronic systems [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Issues to be considered on obtaining plant models for formal verification purposes

Gonzalez

Intriago

Machado

et al. 2016

IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng.

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Abstract. The development of dependable software for mechatronic systems can be a very complex and hard task. For facilitating the obtaining of dependable software for industrial controllers, some powerful software tools and analysis techniques can be used. Mainly, when using simulation and formal verification analysis techniques, it is necessary to develop plant models, in order to describe the plant behavior of those systems. However, developing a plant model implies that designer takes his (or her) decisions concerning granularity and level of abstraction of models; approach to consider for modeling (global or modular); and definition of strategies for simulation and formal verification tasks. This paper intends to highlight some aspects that can be considered for taking into account those decisions. For this purpose, it is presented a case study and there are illustrated and discussed very important aspects concerning above exposed issues. IntroductionA mechatronic system is composed, mainly, by three parts: Controller, Plant and Human Machine Interface (HMI) (see figure 1). These parts interact and behave together, and the development of the software to be introduced in the controller, must take into account the behavior of those parts and the interrelation between them.Several steps can be performed in order to obtain a dependable controller: first, the use of methodologies for obtaining the structure of the controller's specification [1]; second, the use of a formalism to describe, formally, the intended behavior for the controller [2]; third, the use of analysis techniques, in order to guarantee the dependability of the specification [3]; and, fourth, the translation of the specification into a controller program and respective implementation on a physical controller [4]. Concerning use of analysis techniques, plant modeling is one of the bigger issues when performing simulation and formal verification tasks for obtaining dependable software for mechatronic systems [5].This paper intends to demonstrate how to obtain meaningful plant models for formal verification purposes, taking into account the aspects related with level of abstraction, granularity, modular approach and use of global or partial plant models on the process of formal verification. For achieving this purpose, the paper is organized as follows: section 2 presents the context of analysis techniques and focuses the approach on formal verification by model-checking; section 3 presents a case study, in which are presented the developed specification for the controller and some modules of the plant

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Improving automation software dependability: A role for formal methods?

Cited by 41 publications

References 40 publications

An admissible-behaviour-based analysis of the deadlock in Petri-net controllers

An admissible-behaviour-based analysis of the deadlock in Petri-net controllers

Domain-Driven Probabilistic Analysis of Programmable Logic Controllers

Issues to be considered on obtaining plant models for formal verification purposes

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