"State-based Control Language a State-based, Interrupt-driven, Concurrent Language with Error Detection and Recovery"

Abstract

A programming environment to support interactive, concurrent programming for Miarni University's Flexible Manufacturing System is described. The environment is intended to replace the existing extended cell programming language (ECPL), which was sequential in nature, to a state-driven one in order to support concurrency. The system has been altered from being sequential to reactive and is interrupt driven. This also enhances error detection and recovery capabilities. This paper will address the topics of Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) and programming languages for manufacturing control, and will then develop a criteria for analyzing a FMS programming language. Based on that criteria, the former ECPL language will be discussed and analyzed to address problems in ECPL. The paper will conclude with an analysis of the new system outlining areas for further investigation and improvement.