A Joint Controller-Simulator Programming by Demonstration Method for PLC Devices

In this paper, a problem of visual programming of PLC (programmable logic controller) devices is described. A programming by demonstration method is developed so that a problem-domain expert can program such devices without computer programming skill. The method is novel in the sense that, unlike other programming-by-demonstration methods, it requires little a priori knowledge of the controlled system model, nor it needs to interact with a real system. A simulation model, which captures the laws of nature governing the system behavior, is jointly programmed with a control device (PLC). A PLC programming tool, developed based on the proposed joint controller-simulator programming by demonstration paradigm, can generate a high-level structure text program code, from the demonstrated actions as performed by a user