Date of Award
Fall 1990
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
First Advisor
Feng, Xin
Second Advisor
Neiderjohn, Russell J.
Third Advisor
Allgaier, Glen R.
Abstract
Factory automation has been hindered by devices with a wide variety of physical connections and protocols that are incompatible. One of the consequences of this incompatibility in factory devices is the constant need for custom software. This is most apparent at the factory cell level for devices that are connected by serial or multi-drop links. In this thesis these links are referred to as field bus networks. The computer acting as a gateway and providing control functions for the devices on these networks is referred to as a field bus node. Object-Oriented Design and Programming (OOD or OOP) has proved to be a better way to handle complexity in many other areas. The proven benefits of OOP compared with procedural programming in general are that it is more reusable, maintainable and extendible. This thesis focuses on an object-oriented approach to the design and integration of the lowest level of a factory automation network: factory cell, field bus type networks. This is the first time for the application of OOD and OOP to computer networks in general. This is a new approach to the design of field bus node and network software. Currently, many authors in the factory automation area are mentioning the advantages of an objected-oriented approach to problems in this area This is the first time OOD and OOP have been applied to factory automation computer networks. The work in this thesis suggests an object-oriented design for gateways or factory nodes that connect field bus type networks with the rest of the factory. Another point of significance of this thesis for factory networks is that it is independent of any factory standard for communications. This is especially important because, despite MAP, there is no clear consensus as to what the standard should be. This approach also provides a way to incorporate older devices that still have a useful life and therefore has potential economic advantages. This thesis includes background information about networks and factory automation in Chapter 2. Background information about OOP and OOD is presented in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 presents the conceptual framework of an OOD for field bus networks. Each of these chapters has a summary of key ideas developed as its last section. The essence of the conceptual model is presented in Tables 2-4 and the last section of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 is an evaluation of the model from the perspective of user interface requirements. Appendix A is a case study describing an actual system developed using a variation of the conceptual model.
Recommended Citation
Sattler, Debra Loefer, "Object-Oriented Approach to Factory Computer Network Automation" (1990). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3997.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3997