A Model-Driven Engineering Workbench for CAEX Supporting Language Customization and Evolution

Computer Aided Engineering Exchange (CAEX) is one of the most promising standards when it comes to data exchange between engineering tools in the production system automation domain. This is also reflected by the current emergence of AutomationML (AML), which uses CAEX as its core representation language. However, with the increasing use of CAEX, important language engineering challenges arise. One of these challenges is the customization of CAEX for its usage in superior standards, such as AML, which requires the precise specification of the language including the formalization and validation of additional usage rules. Another highly topical challenge is the ongoing evolution of CAEX as has recently happened with the transition from version 2.15 to version 3.0. Further challenges include the provisioning of editing facilities and visualizations of CAEX documents such that they can be inspected and modified by engineers, and the development of transformations from and to CAEX such that different engineering artifacts can be exchanged via CAEX. In this paper, we take a language engineering point of view and present a model-driven engineering (MDE) workbench for CAEX that allows to address these and other challenges. In particular, we present how CAEX can be formulated in a model-based framework, which allows the application of MDE techniques, such as model validation, migration, editing, visualization, and transformation techniques, to solve a diverse set of language engineering challenges experienced for CAEX. We give an overview of the developed workbench and illustrate its benefits with a focus on customizing CAEX for AML and evolving CAEX documents from version 2.15 to 3.0.

[1]  B. Gruschko.  Towards Synchronizing Models with Evolving Metamodels , 2007 .

[2]  Stefan Biffl,et al.  Model-based co-evolution of production systems and their libraries with AutomationML , 2015, 2015 IEEE 20th Conference on Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation (ETFA).

[3]  Jordi Cabot,et al.  Model-Driven Software Engineering in Practice , 2017, Synthesis Lectures on Software Engineering.

[4]  Jordi Cabot,et al.  Towards a general composition semantics for rule-based model transformation , 2011, MODELS'11.

[5]  S. Faltinski,et al.  AutomationML: From data exchange to system planning and simulation , 2012, 2012 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology.

[6]  Rainer Draht,et al.  Datenaustausch in der Anlagenplanung mit AutomationML , 2010 .

[7]  Alois Zoitl,et al.  IEC 61499 based simulation framework for model-driven production systems development , 2010, 2010 IEEE 15th Conference on Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation (ETFA 2010).

[8]  Guido Wachsmuth,et al.  Metamodel Adaptation and Model Co-adaptation , 2007, ECOOP.

[9]  Birgit Vogel-Heuser,et al.  Researching Evolution in Industrial Plant Automation: Scenarios and Documentation of the Pick and Place Unit , 2014 .

[10]  Richard F. Paige,et al.  The Design of a Conceptual Framework and Technical Infrastructure for Model Management Language Engineering , 2009, 2009 14th IEEE International Conference on Engineering of Complex Computer Systems.

[11]  Davide Di Ruscio,et al.  Coupled Evolution in Model-Driven Engineering , 2012, IEEE Software.

[12]  Jordi Cabot,et al.  NeoEMF: a Multi-database Model Persistence Framework for Very Large Models , 2016, D&P@MoDELS.

[13]  Antonio Vallecillo,et al.  Viewpoint Co-evolution through Coarse-Grained Changes and Coupled Transformations , 2012, TOOLS.

[14]  Juan de Lara,et al.  Static Analysis of Model Transformations , 2017, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering.

[15]  Jean Bézivin,et al.  ATL: A model transformation tool , 2008, Sci. Comput. Program..

[16]  Juan de Lara,et al.  Uncovering Errors in ATL Model Transformations Using Static Analysis and Constraint Solving , 2014, 2014 IEEE 25th International Symposium on Software Reliability Engineering.

[17]  Stefan Biffl,et al.  Linking and versioning support for AutomationML: A model-driven engineering perspective , 2015, 2015 IEEE 13th International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN).

[18]  Birgit Vogel-Heuser,et al.  MDE of manufacturing automation software — Integrating SysML and standard development tools , 2014, 2014 12th IEEE International Conference on Industrial Informatics (INDIN).

[19]  Miriam Schleipen.  A concept for conformance testing of AutomationML models by means of formal proof using OCL , 2010, 2010 IEEE 15th Conference on Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation (ETFA 2010).

[20]  R. Drath,et al.  The system-independent data exchange format CAEX for supporting an automatic configuration of a production monitoring and control system , 2008, 2008 IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics.

[21]  Valeriy Vyatkin,et al.  Engineering in Industrial Automation : State of the Art Review , 2013 .

[22]  Antonio Cicchetti,et al.  A generic in-place transformation-based approach to structured model co-evolution , 2011 .

[23]  Anneke Kleppe,et al.  Software Language Engineering: Creating Domain-Specific Languages Using Metamodels , 2008 .

[24]  Jean Bézivin,et al.  On the unification power of models , 2005, Software & Systems Modeling.

[25]  Rainer Drath,et al.  Three-view-concept for modeling process or manufacturing plants with AutomationML , 2009, 2009 IEEE Conference on Emerging Technologies & Factory Automation.

[26]  Thomas Kühne,et al.  Matters of (Meta-) Modeling , 2006, Software & Systems Modeling.

[27]  Manuel Wimmer,et al.  On the evolution of CAEX: A language engineering perspective , 2016, 2016 IEEE 21st International Conference on Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA).

[28]  Douglas C. Schmidt,et al.  Guest Editor's Introduction: Model-Driven Engineering , 2006, Computer.

[29]  Antonio Cicchetti,et al.  Automating Co-evolution in Model-Driven Engineering , 2008, 2008 12th International IEEE Enterprise Distributed Object Computing Conference.