A modelling framework to support the design and analysis of distributed real-time control systems

Within the automatic control in distributed applications project a modelling framework has been developed to support design issues related to the implementation of control applications in embedded distributed computer systems. At a relatively high level of abstraction the models describe the structure and timing behaviour of a control application (in terms of functions and operational models) and its implementation (hardware, operating system threads and resources). The resource description allows the timing behaviour of the implementation to be analysed and fed back into the application models. The models form the basis for a decentralization tool-set, where a first prototype is under development. Examples of the models are given and the framework is compared to related modelling approaches. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.