A Framework for the Implementation of Industrial Automation Systems Based on PLCs

—Industrial automation systems (IASs) are traditionally developed using a sequential approach where the automation software, which is commonly based on the IEC 61131 languages, is developed when the design and in many cases the implementation of mechanical parts have been completed. However, it is claimed that this approach does not lead to the optimal system design and that the IEC 61131 does not meet new challenges in this domain. The increased complexity of these systems and the requirement for improved product and process quality attributes impose the need for exploiting state of the art trends in Mechatronics and Software Engineering. In this paper, a system engineering process based on the new version of IEC 61131, which supports Object Orientation, is presented. This approach adopts the synergistic integration of the constituent parts of mechatronic systems at the Mechatronic component level. Synergistic integration, component based development as well as key concepts of service and object orientation are properly integrated to define a solid framework for addressing the needs of today's complex industrial automation systems. SysML and UML are utilized to introduce a higher layer of abstraction in the design space of IAS and Internet of Things (IoT) is considered as an enabling technology for the integration of cyber and cyber-physical components of the system, bringing into the industrial automation domain the benefits of these technologies.