A methodology for fault isolation and identification in automated equipments

• Published in: 2011 9th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics pp. 157 - 162
• Main Authors: Luca, F., Massimo, A., Alessio, D.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.07.2011
• Subjects: Automata; automated equipment; Computational modeling; Computer architecture; discrete-event systems; factory automation; Fault diagnosis; fault identification; fault isolation; Libraries; Pistons; Sensors
• DOI: 10.1109/INDIN.2011.6034855
• ISBN: 1457704358; 9781457704352
• ISSN: 1935-4576

The paper addresses the problem of reducing the production lines downtimes through an automatic real-time fault isolation and identification system. The paper presents first a methodology, from system specification to implementation on industrial PLC's, for fault isolation based on a special timed analysis and discrete event observers, and in addition shows a real industrial application of the approach, where the whole models, methodology and on-line diagnoser have been implemented and tested on industrial PLC controlling an industrial equipment. The methodology lays on the explicit modeling of time-outs, the clear separation of nominal and non-nominal control behaviour, a suitable physical component model library, a dedicated Java interface for specification, an automatic code generation for PLC-open compliant platforms.