Rapid prototyping environment for control systems implementation

Abstract

In this chapter an easy-to-use SW tool is presented that enables rapid prototyping of advanced (and classical) control methods in an industrial environment. In this way various solutions can be quickly verified before making a final decision regarding the selection of a particular solution and its implementation. The tool supports simple process modelling based on recorded plant data, enables the selection of the most appropriate control method on the spot (the present version includes PID control, feed-forward compensation, predictive control, and TITO (two inputs, two outputs) control, and facilitates the implementation, testing and evaluation of the prototype controller. The tool is adapted to various protocols of control signal acquisition (data files of SCADA systems, Matlab, etc.) and enables direct control by connection to the process through OPC communication, one of the most widely used communication protocols in process industries.