This paper suggests a real-time implementation method for software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulation for control systems, primarily for control education. The SIL simulation is carried out by using a PC for the controllers, a PC for the plant, an open network, and a general-purpose computer-aided control system design (CACSD) package. Specially, Ethernet network is investigated in terms of control issues such as sampling interval, network-induced time-delay, use with many I/O points and data synchronization. A performance evaluation of software-in-the-loop simulation is made with respect to a computation delay and a sampling interval. To reduce the effects of the time-delay, particularly for fast plants, we introduce a time-scaling method that leads to a slow motion. It is demonstrated that this real-time SIL simulation will be very useful, particularly for control education.

This paper suggests a real-time implementation method for software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulation for control systems. The implementation is composed of a PC for the controllers, a PC for the plant, a general-purpose computer-aided control system design (CACSD)package, and an Ethernet network. The Ethernet network is investigated in terms of control issues such as sampling interval, network-induced time delay, use with multiple I/O points and data synchronization. A performance evaluation of software-in-the-loop simulation is carried out subject to a computation delay and a sampling interval. To reduce the effects of the time delay, particularly for fast plants, a time-scaling method is introduced for slow and fast motions. It is demonstrated that this real-time software-in-the-loop simulation will be very useful.

A realization method is suggested for real-time distributed software-in-the loop (DSIL) simulation for distributed control systems. The realization is composed of several personal computers for sub-plants and their controllers, an Ethernet network connecting them, and a general-purpose computer-aided control system design (CACSD) tool for the easy design of controllers. Requirements on real-time DSIL simulation are investigated in terms of network-related control issues and CACSD tool issues. CEMTool, a CACSD tool which is suitable for real-time DSIL simulation, is proposed for easy programming of control algorithm and plant dynamics and for their easy connection. To reduce a sampling interval and guarantee real time, a network scheduling algorithm is suggested for red-time DSIL simulation. It is demonstrated via an experiment of turbine-generator system that this real-time DSIL simulation is very useful for distributed control system design

The problem of temperature control for rapid thermal processor(RTP) is considered in this paper. In RTP of semiconductor wafers, not only accurate control of the wafer temperature but also temperature uniformity through the whole wafer are essential. RTP model considered in this paper is highly nonlinear due to its thermal properties. A robust controller is designed for this RTP model using an H_∞ two degree-of-freedom controller design method, and it is shown that the controller designed performs good tracking and temperature uniformity over a wide range of operating temperatures. Application of the controller to one of manufacturing processes(i.e. oxide growth process) is also investigated in accordance with its temperature profile and seems to be good. Finally, controller reduction is considered, showing possibility of the use of reduced-order controller.