| Abstract |
Graphical languages are standard in the field of
computer programming. Complex software development is
best handled by graphically connecting pre-built, fully
tested and highly specialized software components, instead
of writing and debugging thousands of lines of code.
Modern programming environments include complete
libraries of such components. In the field of Programmable
Logic Controllers (PLCs), this is not the case. PLC
programs can be developed using graphical languages, as
Ladder Diagrams (LD) or Function Block Diagrams (FBD),
but the standard libraries are very limited, so the
programmer must develop his own libraries, building
software objects from scratch. In this paper, a framework is
presented for automatically building complex software
modules using based on two key pillars: on the one hand,
using object oriented concepts as encapsulation, inheritance
and generic programming, and, in the other one, closely
following the physical model of the objects used in building
electrical control cabinets (ECBs). |
