Bridgeview(TM) for Hybrid Control System: an Applied Case Study of Automating an Industrial Assembly Line

Abstract

Advancement in computer, sensors and controllers technology requires control engineers to deal with larger and more complicated controI system. It i no longer suficient to choose between a discrete or analog system because both types are often needed in today's sophisticated systems. A discrete and analog control systems are both extending rapidly to accommodate crucial properties of each other, the line of demarcation between them is becoming fuzzy. A new type of control system - Hybrid Control System (H S) - is emerging that combines the benefits of both. HCS's synergistic effect creates a control system that encompasses the features and functionality of each type and beyond. This work describes a case study of such a system. It involves design and implementation of supervisory software for a propriety Hybrid control system project involving a robotic assembly line for a cellular relay-station motherboard manufacturer. The scope of the project included system analysis of the robotic assembly line, selection of networking and communication protocols, database selection, and the design of an intuitive GUI or Man Machine Interface (MMI). Commercially available supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) packages were reviewed to select a suitable environment. The software implementation on one station of the line is shown aa an example.