INDUSTRIAL INFORMATICS

One of the main aims of the course is the knowledge of the fundamental features of the computing devices used in industry. Knowledge of the main reference standards for the programming of these devices and for the development of distributed industrial applications based on industrial communication systems. Knowledge of the main features of the integrated development environments (IDE) for programming of industrial devices and for the development of distributed industrial applications. The course will allow the students to acquire the ability to design and develope industrial applications through the support of such IDEs.

Another goal of the course is the knowledge of the main reference standard for the definition of information models in industry and for the realization of data exchange between applications based on client/server and publish/subscriber communication paradigms. The course will allow the students to acquire the ability to design and develop distributed systems based on these models for the development of industrial applications for control and supervision of industrial processes.

The course is essentially based on lectures, which include the demonstration on computer of exercises by the teacher. The course also includes practical exercises carried out by the students. These exercises are carried out in the University's multimedia rooms. Each student is assigned a task that must be performed on the computer or on a PLC distributed by the teacher. The teacher supervises the work of the students by providing the explanations and teaching aids necessary to complete the assigned tasks. The methods of carrying out the teaching described above allow the achievement of the pre-established training objectives, which include the acquisition of knowledge and the ability to apply knowledge.

Part I - Application Development for the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

• Architecture of PLC. The automation in industrial processes; control and measurement systems of an industrial process. The Programmable Logic Controller.
• PLC programming. Standard IEC 61131-3. Main features. Data Types. Variables. Functions. Function Blocks. Programs. Resources. Task. Configurations. Programming Languages: Ladder Diagram (LD) and Sequential Function Chart (SFC). Application development based on the standard IEC 61131-3
• Development environments for PLC. The Case Study: Siemens TIA Portal Step 7. Exercises on the PLC programming using the Siemens TIA Portal Development Environment Step 7.

Part II - Application Development for the Distributed Control Systems

• Communication Systems. The Profibus DP and Profinet. Communication Services.
• Development of Distributed Applications in the Fieldbus environment. Application Examples based on Profibus DP and Profinet Communication Systems and the Siemens TIA Portal system Step7.
• The OPC standard. History and evolution. The OPC standard COM and OPC XML. The OPC UA standard: Information Model, Session, Subscription, Monitored Items, OPC UA Services, OPC UA Communication Stack.
• Development of Distributed Applications based on OPC UA standard.

[1] P.Chiacchio, "PLC e Automazione Industriale", McGraw Hill.

[2] R.W.Lewis, "Programming industrial control systems using IEC 1131-3", IEE Control Engineering Series 50.

[3] W.Mahnke, S.H.Leitner, M.Damm, “OPC Unified Architecture”, Springer Verlag, ISBN 978-3-540-68899-0, 2009.

[4] Documentation freely available at the web site dedicated to the course: http://studium.unict.it