Model-based re-engineering of control application : Code generation and verification

Abstract

This thesis introduces a way to transform from traditional software development to model-based design in the control application domain, specifically PLC-based control systems. Traditional software development refers to a process where code is written directly based on system and module design after system requirements are defined. Model-based re-engineering refers to a process where old software is converted to new implementation using a model-based design methodology. Model-based design is a mathematical and visual method to address complex control system problems and is focused on the design phase of the development process. There are multiple reasons why there is a rising interest to use model-based design instead of traditional development but changing to this development model is problematic. The old codebase is usually done by handwritten code and transforming to model-based and new platforms can be complex. This thesis answers the presented problem by developing a systematic way how this transformation can be done. This is achieved by combining re-engineering with V-model. Furthermore, a case study is performed which uses the introduced process for transforming the reference code into a new implementation using model-based design. This case study focuses on how the verification process evolves when re-engineering is part of the V-model. This case study is completed using proprietary software for the model-based design process known as MathWorks’ Simulink and Simulink PLC-coder. Case study showed that it was possible to create a redesigned software using introduced re-engineering model. As a result of this case study, problems in the re-engineering process and the case study itself are explored and an idea for further study is presented.