arXiv subjects

Eva-Maria Neumann

Publications and source records attributed to Eva-Maria Neumann.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Introduction of an Assistance System to Support Domain Experts in Programming Low-code to Leverage Industry 5.0

The rapid technological leaps of Industry 4.0 increase the pressure and demands on humans working in automation, which is one of the main motivators of Industry 5.0. In particular, automation software development for mechatronic systems becomes increasingly challenging, as both domain knowledge and programming skills are required for high-quality, maintainable software. Especially for small companies from automation and robotics without dedicated software engineering departments, domain-specific low-code platforms become indispensable that enable domain experts to develop code intuitively using visual programming languages, e.g., for tasks such as retrofitting mobile machines. However, for extensive functionalities, visual programs may become overwhelming due to the scaling-up problem. In addition, the ever-shortening time-to-market increases the time pressure on programmers. Thus, an assistance system concept is introduced that can be implemented by low-code platform suppliers based on combining data mining and static code analysis. Domain experts are supported in developing low-code by targeted recommendations, metric-based complexity measurement, and reducing complexity by encapsulating functionalities. The concept is implemented for the industrial low-code platform HAWE eDesign to program hydraulic components in mobile machines, and its benefits are confirmed in a user study and an industrial expert workshop.

eess.SY↗

arXiv2022

Boosting Extra-functional Code Reusability in Cyber-physical Production Systems: The Error Handling Case Study

Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS) are long-living and mechatronic systems, which include mechanics, electrics/electronics and software. The interdisciplinary nature combined with challenges and trends in the context of Industry 4.0 such as a high degree of customization, small lot sizes and evolution cause a high amount of variability. Mastering the variability of functional control software, e.g., different control variants of an actuator type, is itself a challenge in developing and reusing CPPS software. This task becomes even more complex when considering extra-functional software such as operating modes, diagnosis and error handling. These software parts have high interdependencies with functional software, often involving the human-machine interface (HMI) to enable the intervention of operators. This paper illustrates the challenges in documenting the dependencies of these software parts including their variability using family models. A procedural and an object-oriented concept for implementing error handling, which represents an extra-functional task with high dependencies to functional software and the HMI, are proposed. The suitability of both concepts to increase the software's reusability and, thus, its flexibility in the context of Industry 4.0 is discussed. Their comparison confirms the high potential of the object-oriented extension of IEC 61131-3 to handle planned reuse of extra-functional CPPS software successfully.

cs.SE↗

arXiv2022

MICOSE4aPS: Industrially Applicable Maturity Metric to Improve Systematic Reuse of Control Software

automated Production Systems (aPS) are highly complex, mechatronic systems that usually have to operate reliably for many decades. Standardization and reuse of control software modules is a core prerequisite to achieve the required system quality in increasingly shorter development cycles. However, industrial case studies in the field of aPS show that many aPS companies still struggle with strategically reusing software. This paper proposes a metric-based approach to objectively measure the maturity of industrial IEC 61131-based control software in aPS (MICOSE4aPS) to identify potential weaknesses and quality issues hampering systematic reuse. Module developers in the machine and plant manufacturing industry can directly benefit as the metric calculation is integrated into the software engineering workflow. An in-depth industrial evaluation in a top-ranked machine manufacturing company in food packaging and an expert evaluation with different companies confirmed the benefit to efficiently manage the quality of control software.

cs.SE↗