Developing a real-time emulation/simulation capability for the control architecture to the RAMP FMS

ABSTRACT

This paper first discusses an object-oriented, control architecture and then applies the architecture to produce a real-time software emulator for the Rapid Acquisition of Manufactured Parts (RAMP) flexible manufacturing system (FMS). In specifying the control architecture, the coordinated object is first defined as the primary modeling element. These coordinated objects are then integrated into a Recursive, Object-Oriented Coordination Hierarchy. A new simulation methodology, the Hierarchical Object-Oriented Programmable Logic Simulator, is then employed to model the interactions among the coordinated objects. The final step in implementing the emulator is to distribute the models of the coordinated objects over a network of computers and to synchronize their operation to a real time clock. Specialized displays have also been developed to allow one to monitor the detailed, real-time operation of each coordinated object. The research will also convert the real-time emulation model into a real-time simulation model for the RAMP FMS. Both the real-time emulation and simulation capabilities will be demonstrated at the presentation.

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