Task-configuration of a pearl-based programmable controller for process-automation

Abstract

This paper describes the configuration of real-time tasks using a PEARL-based programmable controller (“PEARL-PLC”). It will be shown that tasks can be consistently configurated with function-blocks for logic-, sequence- and feedback-control. Furthermore, the synchronization of cooperating tasks, controlling interdependent sub-processes, can also be configurated using communication function-blocks based on Multicomputer-PEARL. Moreover, using the explicit task-scheduling offered by PEARL, the needed processor-time can be reduced to a conceptual minimum. Details of the configuration of a sequence-control task and a fuzzy-control task, the last one as a representative of a feedback-control task, are presented. Finally, trends of future developments of the “PEARL-PLC”, e.g. the implementation of fault-tolerance, are pointed out.