Towards Configurable Conformance Checks of PLC Software with Company-specific Guidelines

Juliane Fischer, Birgit Vogel-Heuser, Fabian Haben, Luca Beuggert, Eva Maria Neumann

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

In machine and plant engineering, ensuring a short time-to-market to stay competitive in the global market requires planned reuse of control software. Modularity is a key enabler for the reuse of software parts in a different application, i.e., within a different project. Thereby, dependencies between modules play an essential role in software modularity and, thus, its reusability. Especially data exchange between modules via global variables (referred to as indirect data exchange) leads to hidden dependencies potentially hindering planned reuse. Currently, there are only a few general best practices for control software design available. Thus, companies define their own programming guidelines tailored to their application domain, the used development platforms and the software development team structure. However, means for checking the software's conformance to these programming guidelines are limited and violations might decrease reusability. Therefore, this paper presents a rule-based, configurable analysis concept for indirect data exchange, which considers company-specific programming guidelines. The analysis concept is prototypically implemented and successfully evaluated with a demonstrator's control software and an industrial software project. Moreover, the concept's industrial applicability is confirmed in an expert interview.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems, ICPS 2022
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781665497701
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Event5th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems, ICPS 2022 - Virtual, Online, United Kingdom
Duration: 24 May 202226 May 2022

Publication series

NameProceedings - 2022 IEEE 5th International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems, ICPS 2022

Conference

Conference5th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems, ICPS 2022
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityVirtual, Online
Period24/05/2226/05/22

Keywords

  • automated production systems
  • guideline-conformance checks
  • indirect data exchange
  • static code analysis

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