M.G. Rodd – författare

The problems surrounding the subject of distributed databases in real-time control were addressed at the workshop. The difficulties included finding new, high-level conceptual models as conventional solutions are rendered useless in distributed databases. The other problems covered include the difficulties faced due to huge transaction fluxes and time constraints. The papers cover these theoretical issues plus an applications section which provides case studies of efficient applied systems which will be important for the development of this essential field.

The authors set out to address fundamental design issues facing engineers when developing the software for real-time computer-based control systems – in which all programs must be safe, reliable, predictable and able to cope with the occurence of faults. Despite rapid progress in computer technology, the attention of designers is still focused on finding logically correct algorithms to implement the required control. It has, however, become evident that this is insufficient and that attention must be paid to meeting the complex timing interactions which occur between the systems under control and the computers controlling them. This book suggests that the answers lie in the use of understandable, engineering-relevant, mathematically sound tools for expressing and analysing the complex temporal interactions. Timing Analysis of Real-Time Software is not a designer''s handbook; rather it discusses the nature of the problems involved and how they can be handled. The focus is on the use of modelling techniques based on the so-called Quirk-model, initially developed in the United Kingdom and, over the past decade, extensively developed in institutions in the ex-Soviet Union and Europe. This book shows how the techniques can be used to form the basis of a new generation of CASE (computer assisted software engineering) tools, and examples are given of how these can be used to design embedded systems ranging from digital controllers through to communication protocol handlers.

One of the most important issues in the development of distributed computer control systems is the ability to build software and hardware which is both reliable and time deterministic; this is an area where control engineering and computer science naturally meet.This publication brings together the latest key papers on research and development in this field, allowing cross-fertilization between the two engineering disciplines involved and allowing both academics and industrial practitioners to find new insights and learn from each other''s views.

This set of proceedings contains the most significant papers presented at the third IFAC Workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Real-time Control, which was held from September 23-25, 1991 in the USA. In this workshop, although there were still some "exotic" applications, a more practical view of the applications and limitations of current AI technology dominated the participants'' discussions. With its resultant focus on reliability and safety considerations, the workshop posed as many questions as it answered. It provides an excellent mirror of the current state-of-the-art which these proceedings are intended to illustrate.

Continuing the forward thinking of previously held distributed computer control systems meetings, this volume discusses both the positive and negative views on trends in OSI-based communications; the development of the fieldbus; the importance of the incorporation into basic real time operating systems to be used for distributed systems of concepts such as time-stamping and access to global time-bases; and the influence of artificial-intelligence-based technologies on the distributed computer control world.

Papers presented at the workshop are representative of the state-of-the art of artificial intelligence in real-time control. The issues covered included the use of AI methods in the design, implementation, testing, maintenance and operation of real-time control systems. While the focus was on the fundamental aspects of the methodologies and technologies, there were some applications papers which helped to put emerging theories into perspective. The four main subjects were architectural issues; knowledge - acquisition and learning; techniques; and scheduling, monitoring and management.

The problems surrounding the subject of distributed databases in real-time control were addressed at the workshop. The difficulties included finding new, high-level conceptual models as conventional solutions are rendered useless in distributed databases. The other problems covered include the difficulties faced due to huge transaction fluxes and time constraints. The papers cover these theoretical issues plus an applications section which provides case studies of efficient applied systems which will be important for the development of this essential field.

This seventh IFAC workshop on distributed control systems (DCCS) discusses the ideas of real-time synchronization and data consistency in industry, with emphasis on the Manufacturing Automation Protocol (MAP). The volume also debates the gulf between the computer scientist''s approach to language and the needs of the application programmer. In addition to treating relevant topics, each session has an introductory paper and a panel discussion, to give a complete picture of the progress and research in this computer field today.

The symposium had two main aims, to investigate the state-of-the-art in the application of artificial intelligence techniques in real-time control, and to bring together control system specialists, artificial intelligence specialists and end-users. Many professional engineers working in industry feel that the gap between theory and practice in applying control and systems theory is widening, despite efforts to develop control algorithms. Papers presented at the meeting ranged from the theoretical aspects to the practical applications of artificial intelligence in real-time control. Themes were: the methodology of artificial intelligence techniques in control engineering; the application of artificial intelligence techniques in different areas of control; and hardware and software requirements. This symposium showed that there exist alternative possibilities for control based on artificial intelligence techniques.