THE SOFTWARE SUPPORT INTERFACE FOR COMPLEX INFORMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS OF AUTOMATION CRITICAL TO THE REAL-TIME MODE

Abstract

One of the introduction areas of computer technologies for the technological processes automation is their application in the modernization of existing industrial facilities. As a rule, such modernization takes place according to the two most common approaches. The first approach involves stopping the technological process for a sufficiently long time for installation and debugging of updated automation systems, the second – their step-by-step update with installation and adjustment both during planned repairs and stoppages of the technological process, and during regular work. In both cases, an approach based on the application of a two-level hierarchical automation system has become traditional, in which controllers are used at the lower level of the hierarchy to receive information from the control object and issue control influences on the latter, including in automatic mode, and at the upper level – the man-machine interface of the technologist operator is implemented. At the same time, in the second case, in order to shorten the debugging time of the software that implements additional functionality when expanding the system, it is advisable to conduct it directly on the working system. This allows you to speed up the debugging time but carries additional risks of extending the time frame for executing the programmed algorithm of the system that is already in operation beyond the time frame that was previously determined during its development. This is especially dangerous for those system functions that are critical to the real-time mode. Thus, there is a task of operational control of the functioning of the technical systems software critical to the real-time mode. One of the directions for solving this problem is the creation of a subsystem of software support in the case of the development of complex information and control automation systems critical to the real-time mode. Modern SCADA systems used for programming such systems provide a variety of tools for the organization of the NMI interface with the operator-technologist, at the same time, the issues of organizing the programmer interface, which simplifies the setup of complex information and control automation systems critical to the real-time mode, have been neglected their developers. Therefore, the experience of creating a programmer's interface for controlling the high-speed rolling mode of a continuous rolling mill of PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih can be used for the further development of SCADA systems. The purpose of the work is to substantiate decisions regarding the structure and functionality of the programmer's interface of complex automation systems critical to the real-time mode. The realization of the set goal involves substantiating the structure of the interface concidering the functional and structural features of the automation system and the forms of presenting information about various program parameters, which facilitates the debugging of the system software on the control object and allows online monitoring of its implementation in real-time mode. The methodology for solving the given task consists in the analysis and structuring of information array used by the system programmer, who performs debugging and maintenance of the automation system, which is critical to the real-time mode, followed by its grouping according to functional characteristics. The scientific novelty consists in substantiating the expediency and necessity of supplementing the traditional human-machine interface of SCADA systems with functionality that provides support for the software of automation systems.