Incorporating Component Based Control Software In Manufacturing Engineering Instruction

Efficient and timely development of control software is a challenge in deploying agile manufacturing systems. This is also a challenge in the academic environment because control software used in student projects must be developed quickly and efficiently. Instructors and students are required to have sufficient programming and software development background to change or modify a piece of control software. This introduces tedious programming tasks into a project and diverts students’ focus on issues fundamental to manufacturing systems and processes. A component-based software development approach has been developed and utilized at Miami University that introduces flexible, adaptable, and user-friendly control software for manufacturing work cells. This paper presents the design framework and implementation of the software, as well as preliminary instructional results using the software.