Automated test suite generation to test modular designed packaging machines using Fault Injection and a simulink-based simulation approach

In spite of the rising complexity and functionality of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) software, a high degree in quality and reliability has to be guaranteed for automated production systems. Applying structured testing, faults can be recognized and eliminated early during the engineering process. Therefore, in this paper an approach for automatic test suite generation implemented with Fault Injection (FI) for modular production systems is presented. The automatically generated test suite consists of test cases selected out of a test case library. The approach is developed based on the simulation environment MATLAB/Simulink and evaluated with a PLC of a packaging machine as hardware-in-the-loop test. The goal of this paper is the development of an automatic test suite generation approach with fault injection conducted with modular packaging machines.